Meghan Markle wins diversity award with 'groundbreaking' Vogue cover
The Duchess of Sussex has said she is “honoured” as the issue of Vogue she guest edited wins an award.
Meghan, 38, edited the September 2019 edition, the first time the September issue of the fashion bible has had a guest at the helm.
She used the issue to highlight some women she thought were ‘Forces for Change’, including Greta Thunberg and Jacinta Ardern.
At the Professional Publishers Association Awards, held virtually on Tuesday afternoon, Vogue were named winners of the Diversity Initiative of the Year award, with special mention for the issue Meghan was involved in.
According to the PPA: “One judge commented that the forces for change issue felt like a ‘genuine media ground-breaking moment’.”
The Duchess of Sussex said: “I’m honoured to have this very special issue recognised. Creating Forces for Change with Edward was an opportunity to have the September issue of Vogue reflect the world as we see it - beautiful and strong in its diversity.
“Huge congratulations to Edward who helped bring this to light, and for his additional honour of being awarded ‘best editor’ by PPA.”
Edward Enninful, editor of British Vogue, posted on Instagram: “I'm also thrilled to say that #BritishVogue's September 2019 #ForcesForChange issue – guest-edited by the inimitable Meghan, The Duchess of Sussex @SussexRoyal – has won Diversity Initiative of the Year.
“Many thanks to my amazing team, the best an editor could ask for. Here's to more successes!”
He scooped the Consumer Editor of the Year award.
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Meghan’s issue sold out in 10 days, the fastest selling issue in the history of British Vogue and was the biggest selling issue of the decade.
It also inspired a series of events called the Change-Maker talks, the first of which was held in the Southbank Centre in March.
The cover included: Adwoa Aboah, Adut Akech, Ramla Ali, Jacinda Ardern, Sinead Burke, Gemma Chan, Laverne Cox, Jane Fonda, Salma Hayek Pinault, Francesca Hayward, Jameela Jamil, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, Yara Shahidi, Greta Thunberg and Christy Turlington Burns.
Of the issue, the duchess said: “Through this lens I hope you’ll feel the strength of the collective in the diverse selection of women chosen for the cover as well as the team of support I called upon within the issue to help bring this to light. I hope readers feel as inspired as I do, by the ‘Forces for Change’ they’ll find within these pages.”
