Jourdan Dunn Becomes First Black Model in 12 Years to Garner British Vogue Cover

Model Jourdan Dunn is definitely starting off the year on the right footing! The 24-year-old Londoner is currently gracing the cover of British Vogue but this isn’t just any typical assignment.

Jourdan Dunn tweets her joy!

Jourdan is remarkably the first black model to land the cover in 12 years! That honor went to Supermodel Naomi Campbell. Both models were also handpicked as the faces of Burberry SS15.

Back in 2008, Jourdan appeared as a British Vogue cover girl surrounded by other up and coming models including Rosie Huntington-Whitley and Eden Clark but every model secretly pray for the day when they are solo.

The fact that in 2015, a black model garnering the cover of British Vogue is deemed a feat worth celebrating is proof that the fashion industry still hasn’t made impressive strides despite the multi-cultural mindset that is dominating globally.

This issue hasn’t gone unnoticed by models of color, as Jourdan reveals her struggles while navigating a stringent landscape and being shunned for her skin color, “I want to talk about what goes on. A lot of people are scared to speak up”.

Others have also been expressive about the industry’s reluctance to adequately utilize black models. Naomi Campbell, Iman and Bethann Hardison each penned testimonies to British Vogue in the fall of 2013, drawing attention to their lack of diversity.

It is certainly an ongoing issue that spans decades and encompasses other fashion magazines that seem more comfortable featuring Caucasian models as opposed to ethnic types.

But one victory at a time! Jourdan Dunn has scored and that’s worth a major shoutout!

Naomi Campbell on the cover back in 2002