What Message is Being Sent by Elle Magazine’s November 2024 Cover Featuring Kylie Jenner?
In this influential fashion and lifestyle magazine, Kylie poses with a bared abdomen, wearing just a pulled-up tee and bikini bottoms. Some people see this as a powerful message about contemporary female empowerment, highlighting her ability to define herself boldly and unapologetically. By embracing body positivity in this way, she sends a message to other women that they too can be bold and secure. However, I take issue with this portrayal.
Questioning the Policy of Fashion Magazines
I question the policy of Elle and many other fashion/lifestyle magazines that require interviewees to bare various parts of their bodies along with the interviews discussing their lives, pursuits, and philosophy.
Kylie Jenner: A Successful Business Entrepreneur
Kylie touts herself as a successful business entrepreneur. She owns Kylie Cosmetics, Kylie Swim, a line of swimwear that includes sizes for all women, and Kylie baby, a skincare and hair product line for babies. Her net worth is estimated at about 700 million. In October 2020, Kylie was listed on Forbes List of 100 Richest Self-Made Women, and the only one in her 20’s on the list. Her net worth and businesses are impressive, and that is a worthwhile message to pass on to other young women. But why does she need to bare her breasts as she does on another page, wearing only a bra with her blue jeans open at the waist, exposing her lacy pink undies? And just so no one feels threatened by her, she appears in a pink striped nightgown, holding a large pink teddy bear. Pink, so much pink. Getting the idea?
The Impact on Young Women
I am not a prude, but why not present an article about Kylie Jenner with all her clothes on, especially since so many young women will look at her sculpted body and feel inadequate. She has come a long way from the time she suffered self-described postpartum blues after the birth of her first child, a process that added 60 pounds to her body. I commend her for her beauty and toned body, but more importantly for her achievements and resilience.
A Call for Change in Magazine Practices
Elle magazine is not alone in this practice. Just about every magazine I can think of replicates the same requirements. I’m just saying, for the sake of all the rest of us, can icons be more fully clothed?
I agree with you Elaine. However Elle magazine is in the end a beauty magazine, and Kylie is simply being “on brand” for the requirements. It is essentially a commercial for Kylie and the magazine itself. Kylie and and Elle’s messaging is consistent with all other beauty magazines. I did not read the article but I can imagine what is says and how it looks and feels, kind of like “seen it once seen them all”. It would be refreshing and unexpected if a magazine like Elle presented a different image once in a while, but I suspect that would be in a different publication. Also I didn’t know that magazines were still in circulation. I figured that everyone is getting their content from social media.
I see what you are saying. In another world I agree with you. In today’s world “success” ( making money) has to do with branding. Whether it’s Coca Cola, the creator of today’s Santa Claus image , BMW, Nike, Lady Gaga (her outfits), or Billie Ellish ( the anti naked look). I see her messaging as being consistent with her brand. As magazines have determined “sex” sells.