Is summer here yet? As I find myself shopping for a lightweight-but-substantial spring coat (itβs currently 52 degrees in Chicago on this here May the 17th), clearly not. But our constant girl crush Lizzo is bringing the heat on not one, but two covers ripe for the season, starring on both Essenceβs digital June issue and V Magazineβs Summer Music issue!
βThis is a big one for me because for so long I felt like my music wasnβt reaching black people and it was breakinβ my heart,β the multitalented musician wrote on Instagram of her star turn on Essence. βTo be an [Essence] COVERGIRL means this musical medicine I got is finally being heard by EVERYONE ππ₯π thank you!!!β
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The unapologetically black, big, bold and beautiful baddie drops plenty of her now legendary gems in both cover stories; for instance:
βSometimes the label βunapologeticβ bothers me because it can be loaded, because it means we have to apologize for something in the first place. Iβm not ignorant to the fact that we had to have a demeanor of lowering ourselves culturally just to exist. But Iβm trying to shake up the narrative about how weβre supposed to act.β
And proving that her confidenceβin both her body and her messageβdoesnβt exist in a vacuum, Lizzo rightly gives a nod to an equally talented predecessor.
βSeeing Missy exist in her truth was like, Oh, I can exist in my truth. She didnβt try to hide anything, lie or cover anything up. She was as weird and freaky as she wanted to be. And I thought that was special,β Lizzo tells Essence. βI want girls who look like me to feel that way [about my music].β
Fashion lovers watched Lizzo kill it on the Met Gala red carpet wearing Marc Jacobs on May 6, but as she revealed to Essence, sheβs clear that the statement is bigger than fashion.
βI never really cared about designers and fashion brands until recently, because they never cared about me,β she said. βItβs not about fashion or being famous. Itβs about being better and making sure that this world can hear us and respect usβ¦β
Equally badass on the cover of V Magazineβs Summer Music issue (with model/dancer Alton Mason), Lizzo tells fellow musician Sam Smith (yes, that Sam Smith), βMy favorite thing about myself is my blackness. I am really just so honored to be graced with this identity. No shade to any other shade on the planetβI just canβt relate. I just love being a black woman, even in a world where we are statistically the least desirable. I am still here, and I still rise.β
And for those prone to dismiss this incredibly talented woman at first sight, she has some choice words:
β[M]y movement is for everyone. Itβs about inclusion. And if I am going to fight what I have been marginalized for, I am going to fight for all marginalized people,β Lizzo declares. βBecause fuck boxes; Iβm too big to be put in one anyway. Iβm a fat bitch.β
Who else is melanating magazine covers this June? How about Zendaya on the cover of American Vogue, photographed by history-maker Tyler Mitchell, Naomi Campbell covering Vogue Japan, Zoe Kravitz glowing on one of InStyleβs five Big Little Lies-themed covers, and Yara Shahidiβwhose new film, The Sun Is Also a Star, premieres todayβatop Town & Country?
And very special kudos go to Menβs Health UK, which not only put British professional boxer Anthony Joshua on its May cover, but chose a series of predominantly black boys of color to cover its special Male Mental Health issue, recognizing that suicide is the biggest killer of males under 45. And belated shoutout to Terry Crews and model Adut Akech, who covered the May issues of Menβs Health and Allure, respectively.
Weβve compiled the most colorful covers of June above. Now, go buyβand enjoy this exit music by Lizzo!
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