The most divisive Vogue magazine covers of 2018

Fashion magazine Vogue frequently stirs up controversy with its cover choices. Its magazines in 2018 were no exception.

The June cover of Vogue Arabia featuring a Saudi princess behind the wheel of a convertible drew widespread criticism.
The issue claimed to be “a celebration of the trailblazing women of Saudi Arabia,” including cover subject Princess Hayfa Bint Abdullah Al Saud. Saudi Arabia had recently lifted its ban on female drivers.
Critics called the magazine tone deaf, noting that at least 11 activists had been arrested in Saudi Arabia in the previous two weeks, most of whom were women who fought for the right to drive.
(See articles by NPR, CNN and Time.)

Vogue Italia was slammed for using “black face” with its cover image of model Gigi Hadid for its May 2018 issue.
Hadid and Vogue Italia later apologized for the photo shoot. Hadid said her skin was bronzed for the session, but also darkened in post-production.
(See articles by People, CBS News, the Daily Mail and Page Six.)

The February issue of British Vogue was mocked for featuring two white actresses, Nicole Kidman and Margot Robbie, with the cover line “Why we need to talk about race.”
British Vogue has faced criticism for its lack of racial diversity within its covers.
(See articles by the Independent and AJC.)

The March issue of Vogue India was criticized for featuring reality-television star Kim Kardashian West on the cover instead of a South Asia woman.
She also was lambasted for cultural appropriation in the photo shoot. Kardashian West wore a lehenga, a traditional Indian skirt typically worn to formal events or on special occasions.
(See articles by Insider, Fashionista, Indian Express and the Daily Mail.)

Reality-TV star Kylie Jenner stirred up controversy on social media with her appearance on the cover of the September issue of Vogue Australia.
Her makeup artist, Ariel Tejada, implied that Jenner was makeup-free, except for moisturizer, on the cover. People took to social media to call B.S. on that claim.
(See articles by Insider and Dankanator.)

Readers complained about the cover selection for the first issue of Vogue Czechoslovakia. They called the cover ugly and said it wasted Czech beauty Karolina Kurkova by photographing her back.
(See article by the Fashion Spot.)

Finally, in May, readers ridiculed the cover of U.S. Vogue’s Met Gala Special Edition. They knocked Katy Perry’s outfit and said other celebrities at the show had much better ensembles. But no one dared to complain about Rihanna, who shared the cover. (See article by the Fashion Spot.)