Iman, Teyana Taylor and Ciara Cover the ‘ESSENCE’ July/August Issue

As a magazine that celebrates the significance of Black women and their journeys and contributions, ESSENCE spoke to three very inspirational women for their July/August Issue. 

The July/August Issue of ESSENCE commemorates 25 years of Essence Festival, an annual music festival geared toward black women to celebrate the magazine and its contribution. For its cover story ESSENCE featured supermodel Iman and musical powerhouses Teyana Taylor and Ciara.

The tribal themed cover shoot shot by Itaysha Jordan and styled by Marielle BoBo, now known as “Our Tribe”, features Iman, Teyana and Ciara in tribal face paint, and traditional garment. Iman can be seen in Rapunzel length box braids while Ciara rocks her signature summer faux locs and Teyana bares a Cowrie Shell Crown, really making this shoot relatable to those of African culture.

 

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It’s been like every brown gals dream to grace the cover of @essence magazine…. I am one of those brown Harlem gals who has dreamed 🙌🏾🙌🏾🙌🏾 😩😩😩🥵 am I really looking at myself on the cover of essence mama?!! Wow 😢Thank you @essence for the beautiful write up by @britnidanielle, photos & for always embracing #blackgirlmagic #brownbeauties #OurTribe I’m so honored to be apart of this issue 💕 My cover will be hitting stands tomorrow along with these other legendary brown beauties @Ciara @the_real_iman 😍😍😍😍 #girlpower #essence Photography by Itaysha Jordan @itayshaphoto Styled by Marielle Bobo @mariellebobo Hair, Vernon Francois for Vernon Francois/The Visionaries @vernonfrancois Makeup, Christiana Cassell/The Only Agency @beautybychrisc Manicure, Whitney Gibson using Essie/TMG-LA @whitneygnails Set Design, John Geary/Celestine Agency @johngearystudio

A post shared by Jimmy Neutch- Shumpert (@teyanataylor) on Jun 20, 2019 at 11:57am PDT

Each woman spoke about their journey, what motivates them and what they want people to know about them. For legendary supermodel Iman, that message is inclusivity. After decades of running a global beauty line for women of all shades, Iman gives props to Fenty Beauty for the brand’s push for change. “I opened that gate. And Fenty knocked the gate out.” Iman also speaks about how her late husband and musical icon David Bowie motivated her to move without fear. Teyana Taylor spoke about her many business ventures including her ALL FEMALE production company The Aunties Production. She also spoke about being a mom to her adorable mini Junie, and what Black Love means.

Ciara highlights the importance of prayer in her interview and how her faith was the basis to her “Level Up”. She also spoke about how she’s constantly learning, telling ESSENCE, “No matter how much success you have, I believe there’s always an opportunity to grow and learn something new.”

The Summer Issue of ESSENCE hit newsstands today (June 21st).