Internationally Known: Essence Celebrates Its Global Impact With Serena Williams and a New Design

At this point in time, Essence is an American classic, beloved by those of us who grew up with the magazine atop the coffee tables of our mothers, aunties, grandmothers, big sisters, and now, ourselves. But on the heels of the 25th annual Essence Festival, and as the magazine approaches its 50th birthday in 2020,…

At this point in time, Essence is an American classic, beloved by those of us who grew up with the magazine atop the coffee tables of our mothers, aunties, grandmothers, big sisters, and now, ourselves. But on the heels of the 25th annual Essence Festival, and as the magazine approaches its 50th birthday in 2020, Essence is looking forward to inspiring future generations with a new redesign and indisputable, globally recognized champion and fashion entrepreneur Serena Williams.

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Williams is the star of Essenceโ€™s September issue, also known as its Global Fashion Issue, which โ€œtakes audiences on a world tour of Black creatives from fashion and art to culture and business,โ€ according to a release touting that next monthโ€™s issue is โ€œfeaturing designers from Lagos to New York City.โ€

Exemplifying our inextricable link to Africa, Williamsโ€™ face is half-painted by famed Nigerian-born, Brooklyn-based artist Laolu Senbanjo and captured by photographer Kwaku Alston for the September cover and feature story, titled โ€œThe Future of Serena Williams.โ€

โ€œWe are beyond ecstatic to have Serena Williamsโ€”one of the most photographed women on the planetโ€”to be the muse for our September Global Fashion issue,โ€ said MoAna Luu, Essenceโ€™s chief content and creative officer. โ€œThis issue promises to be one of ESSENCEโ€™s biggest with a fresh new redesign,โ€ she added. โ€œWe also brought the best Black creatives in the worldโ€”including visual artist Laolu, who gave us Serenaโ€™s stunning face painting for the coverโ€”to present all of the stunning visuals that you see.โ€

The multihyphenate mogul, who will present her S by Serena line at New York Fashion Week in September with a 24-hour runway-to-retail option available September 10, gave Essence some insights to her incredible success, and the passion that fuels her perpetually multitasking life.

โ€œMy biggest joy is that I know that Iโ€™m doing something that Iโ€™ve always wanted to do, that I always dreamed of doing,โ€ Williams said. โ€œI just needed to do it on my own. Because when you invest in yourself, it helps your confidence, and youโ€™ll know forever that whether you make it or not, you stepped up to the plate.โ€

The working mom also speaks on her larger-than-life image and her unapologetic stance. โ€œFreedom means standing up and not being afraid to say, โ€˜Iโ€™m hereโ€™ or โ€˜Hear my voiceโ€™ or โ€˜This isnโ€™t what I agreed toโ€™ or โ€˜This isnโ€™t fair and that isnโ€™t right,โ€™โ€ Williams says. โ€œIโ€™ve done it my whole career. Itโ€™s knowing where Iโ€™ve come from, knowing my history, in particular, the sport that Iโ€™m in. When I first started, there werenโ€™t a lot of people who looked like me. So it was really important to always help other people feel as if this is something they could also be a part of...โ€

Inclusivity is a huge part of Williamsโ€™ fashion brand, which has recently introduced an extended size range. But while the pioneering tennis player wants to design clothing for all types of bodies, what sheโ€™s not welcoming is the term โ€œplus.โ€

โ€œWe want to be inclusive. We have an extended size, and we call it great because I donโ€™t like the word โ€˜plus,โ€™โ€ Williams told Essence. โ€œSo we call it S Great because every woman is great.โ€

Williams is just one great woman to look forward to in the newly redesigned September issue, which also marks the debut of Essenceโ€™s Black Fashion Awards, โ€œrecognizing game changers moving fashion forward through design, photography, styling, modeling and more; the #BlackWomenIn profiles, highlighting five sisters creating diversity behind-the-scenes in fashion; and The Cool Girl Guide series, spotlighting global influencers in Paris who make their city haute.โ€

The Glow Up tip: The September issue of Essence, starring Serena Williams, will be on stands on August 16.

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