Beyoncé given ‘unprecedented control’ over Vogue’s September issue cover

According to reports, Beyoncé has been given ‘unprecedented control’ over her cover and photos in the upcoming September issue of American Vogue. The star’s creative moves have reportedly included having control over her cover shot, the photos and captions within the magazine (which are said to be long-form) and hiring the first black photographer to shoot the cover in Vogue‘s 126-year history.

Editor-in-chief Anna Wintour has always had complete creative control over Vogue issues, with cover subjects having little to no say in photos or styling, and are only sent the cover the week before publication, according to the Huffington Post. With the September issue being the most important issue of the year for Vogue, Beyoncé’s creative control is big news in the world of fashion.

Beyoncé’s last cover shot for American Vogue was in 2015 and shot by Mario Testino, with whom Vogue and Anna Wintour had worked closely with for years until accusations of sexual misconduct arose against him this year. The photographer chosen for this year’s September issue is 23-year-old Tyler Mitchell, who has previously shot for i-D, Teen Vogue and Dazed magazines. In an interview with the New York Times earlier this year, Mitchell said of his work: “I depict black people and people of colour in a really real and pure way.”

As well as her unprecedented control, Beyoncé’s cover shoot will not be accompanied by an interview in Vogue. Her 2015 cover was also not accompanied by an interview, which had not happened for several years previous to the issue.

It has been widely speculated that the September issue will be Anna Wintour’s last issue as editor-in-chief of Vogue, with many of Condé Nast’s staff having left the company in recent months. Although Condé Nast has repeatedly rejected the rumours, it’s expected that Wintour will stay involved in the publication, possibly as a contributing editor.