#BlackExcellence: Rihanna Becomes The First Black Woman To Cover British Vogue’s September Issue

Rihanna is officially the first black woman to grace the cover of British Vogue’s September issue!

On Tuesday, the Grammy Award-winner-turned-fashion icon unveiled her September cover along with additional photos from the issue on Instagram. Styled by British Vogue’s editor-in-chief, Edward Enninful and shot by British fashion photographer, Nick Knight, the cover features the singer decked out in a pink Prada dress, along with Savage x Fenty gloves, a flower headdress, with hair by Yusef Williams and make-up by Isamaya Ffrench.

In terms of selecting the “Wild Thoughts” singer for the prestigious September issue, Enninful says she was always at the top of his list.

“I always knew it had to be Rihanna. A fearless music-industry icon and businesswoman, when it comes to that potent mix of fashion and celebrity, nobody does it quite like her,” Enninful wrote in the issue’s Editor’s Letter. “No matter how haute the styling goes, or experimental the mood, you never lose her in the imagery. She is always Rihanna. There’s a lesson for us all in that. Whichever way you choose to dress the new season, take a leaf out of her book and be yourself.”

Riri also expressed her gratitude toward Enninful for choosing her for the issue. She wrote in an Instagram post; “I’m so honored to be on the cover of your first September issue with British Vogue @edward_enninful Thank you for considering me!”

Rihanna’s forthcoming British Vogue cover comes fresh off the heels of reports stating U.S. Vogue Editor-in-chief Anna Wintour provided Beyoncé with “unprecedented control” over her September Vogue cover.

#BlackExcellence at its FLYEST!

British Vogue’s September issue hits newsstands on Aug. 3.