US Vogue April 2008 : Gisele Bündchen & LeBron James by Annie Leibovitz

[echan]

What is the point of putting a basketballer to a fashion magazine's cover ?

I suppose partly it's because of the shape theme this issue, and partly because fashion is, ultimately, for everyone.

 

[Miss Dalloway]

well..wait. is it really true he is the first black male on a Vogue cover? Will Smith was on Men's Vogue.

Mens Vouge and VOGUE is not the same.

 

[Surfhus]

That cover is so disappointing

 

[Mchunu]

Mens Vouge and VOGUE is not the same.

Surely "Mens vouge" & Vogue are not the same

what i am saying is that they're both editions of Vogue; period.

 

[MicheleIman]

I understand why she put Lebron on the cover, anyone seen the 2007 playoffs besides me? He single-handed brought a team no one ever cared about to play against one of the top teams in the league! And to top it all off, everyone saw they had potential to win. He is an amazing player! That being said, she could have easily picked a cover picrure that flattered him. The picture looks horrendous! I am looking forward to Doutzen & Daria's pics.

 

[Miss Dalloway]

& why not since they are both editions of vogue?

I am sorry but i actually do not get your point?

Vogue is 100+ years old and this is the FIRST time a man of colour has been on their cover, EVER!! While Mens Vogue was launched few years ago and had several stylish black men like Obama, Washington.etc on their covers alredy.

So i really dont see what Mens Vogue has to do with any of this since its not the same magazine!!

 

[Tinsley V]

I'm really mad they didn't feature either Djokovic or Federer...

 

[OMIFAN9]

good that he's the first black male but they still set him up with this one

Yeah again its sad especially considering King James is a great looking guy! I'm still not over VOGUE doing this considering GQ and Men's Vogue have done it right when it comes to male celebs...surely if he were on those covers he'd be so fine & proper,jokes! They really could've gotten money from me since I love diversity & quality,not to mention I love sports almost as much as fashion! I guess its covers like this that gives their theory of 'Oh models & minorites don't sell well' excuses some sort of credence. But Gee if only they'd get decent covers I don't think it would be a problem!

 

[OMIFAN9]

I am sorry but i actually do not get your point?

Vogue is 100+ years old and this is the FIRST time a man of colour has been on their cover, EVER!! While Mens Vogue was launched few years ago and had several stylish black men like Obama, Washington.etc on their covers alredy.

So i really dont see what Mens Vogue has to do with any of this since its not the same magazine!!

Agreed,its not the same.

 

[bun-bun]

That said, the Shape editorial is usually a bit of a swizz, with the 'short' person being 5'7" and the 'curvy' person without an ounce of spare flesh on her frame. There's never anyone who isn't already a model or, as a celeb, isn't already featured in fashion magazines - I think Crystal Renn is as extreme as it gets.

I don't have the past issues to hand, but I can never remember thinking that they were particularly inclusive - to me, it's just a yearly selling gimmick, a chance to put a big headline on the cover and draw in a few more buyers who'll think, this month, US Vogue sounds more relevant to their lifestyle.

I agree with this entirely. I mean, they once used Devon Aoki to portray short, when she's actually two inches taller than me and I'm exactly average at 5"4".

The only shapes they ever get right are "tall" and "thin" for obvious reasons.

 

[honeyisle]

I find it disturbing that some are seeing king kong or "Ape" when they look at Lebron on the cover. It's like WTF?!

 

[Suburban Snob]

Noooo....What a terrible cover.

 

[clo]

I like the cover. I think that the idea of motion they tried to convey may not be the very best one but Gisele and Lebron look great together and at least it's not a celebrity/actress cover. I am also upset that people call Lebron King Kong or Ape. That is extremely offensive and he is actually a good looking guy!

 

[tigerrouge]

I find it disturbing that some are seeing king kong or "Ape" when they look at Lebron on the cover. It's like WTF?!

I pondered that. I think they're seeing a physically huge man pulling a 'beast' pose (roaring mouth, rounded arms) with a skinny woman looking as if she's trying to escape. So I'd like to think the aggressive/defensive body language is what provokes the comparison, rather than the shade of the skin.

 

[KKnardi]

boring, but nice to see gisele on the cover for the 100,000,000th time...

 

[sethii]

I find it disturbing that some are seeing king kong or "Ape" when they look at Lebron on the cover. It's like WTF?!

why is it disturbing to you? Look at the posture, shoulders hunched forward, arms hanging down, jaw wide open in an angry cry. Blonde damsell (sp?) in his arm...it could only be more apparant if Anna had arranged miniture planes to fly around them.

No need to assume the worst in people

 

[sepia]

Anna hardly ever uses minorities in vogue, on the cover or inside for editorials. I have yet to see a Latina on the cover (or maybe I just dont remember). This cover is indeed hideous; it makes the other time she used a black face, the Jennifer Hudson cover look great which I never thought was possible.

Salma Hayek and Jennifer Lopez have been on the cover.

 

[flyme2themoon]

I'm not really a fan of this cover.
Gisele look fantastic, but Lebron looks scary. (It's just a really unflattering image of him).

Him making this face for a photo is not as exciting as him making this face when he's (while playing basketball) doing a slam dunk, and adding 2 more points to his teams' score. B)

He's more handsome smiling, or with a "serious" look on his face.
For example:


Source: time.com and thefoolhardy.com.

 

[junegloom]

This is pretty terrible but I don't have high expectations for US Vogue anymore anyway

 

[sepia]

I find it disturbing that some are seeing king kong or "Ape" when they look at Lebron on the cover. It's like WTF?!

I don't think he looks like an ape, but the imagery of the photo either consciously or unconsciously recalls the image of King Kong gripping the white woman. His face and body language look menacing, almost dangerous, compared to Giselle. It was really a poor choice for a picture and it doesn't look like the same photshoot. As others have said, if it was a sports photo in another context, like on a basketball court or something, the yelling and aggression would seem more appropriate, but not here.