For 50 years, ESSENCE has curated unique spaces for Black women in the media space. As high-fashion magazines were continuing to invest in white entertainers, writers and content creators, ESSENCE strictly invested its mission in the Black experience–allowing customers to purchase a magazine that displayed Black women as gracefully as Vogue, Harper’s Bazzar, and other high-fashion magazines showcased their white counterparts.

For the 50th Anniversary collector’s issue, ESSENCE tapped Zendaya as the cover star to close out this unprecedented year. The 24-year-old actress has had quite the year, despite the pandemic. She even scored her first Emmy win for her role on HBO’s Euphoria. The superstar is popularly known to be creatively linked with Image Architect Law Roach, the stylist behind this issue’s breathtaking Zendaya shoot. Together, they’ve created iconic moments with her creative partner allowing the actress and stylist to create their own unique approach to the industry – with purpose.

“I feel like I’ve been charged with the responsibility of being a story teller for Black stories,” Roach tells ESSENCE. The stylist detailed his love for paying respect to past fashion influencers while also celebrating new faces. Last year, Zendaya partnered with Tommy Hilfiger for his latest collection last Fall in which the actress and Law pulled from a cast of diverse models. From Pat Cleveland to Grace Jones to Alton Mason, there wasn’t an age range the pair left out. “This shoot was the offspring of that,” Roach exclaimed. On stands now, for the December issue Zendaya pays homage to Donyale Luna, the first credited Black supermodel. “Even as a 14-year-old, Zendaya was very receptive to learning about the women who came before her and paved the way.”

Before going on to become the first Black woman to cover any Vogue magazine (British Vogue, 1966), a sketch of Luna appeared on the cover of Harper’s Bazaar, which was allegedly due to publishers wanting to mask her identity. In her career the model went on to be the first known mannequin of a Black woman, act in films for Andy Warhol, and work under contract for fashion photographer Richard Avedon. “The opportunity to pay homage to her, and use ESSENCE as the vehicle, I think is quite incredible,”says Roach.

In the spread, Zendaya can be seen posing similarly with a selection of Luna’s most popular photoshoots. Wearing GiGi Hunter on the cover, a popular Black designer who spearheaded knitwear in the nineties, the photoshoot was lead by Ahmad Barber and Donté Maurice also know as AB + DM. Most of our portfolio is Black talent and people who will carry very long legacy’s for the next generation to look at in the future,” the photographers tell ESSENCE. “We really love what we do and everyone we’ve had the pleasure of working with.” Formed in 2018. Barber and Maurice have shot for publications like Billboard, Paper Magazine and In Style. While shooting all subjects, Barber and Maurice have introduced a refreshing take on how they display Black talent. “Being trusted with this project was a very big deal for us, We’re so glad that we’ve had the chance to work with Essence, a magazine that we grew up with.”

As the 50th year celebration for ESSENCE comes to an end, the investment in Black creatives is just beginning. While a new generation of photographers, stylist, and talent enters the industry, it’s important to support emerging creators, while holding up the Black entertainers who fought to be at the table. “These icons will never be forgotten,” Law concludes.










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