It’s by no means the only case of a model doing a shoot herself during lockdown—Lucire KSA’s May 2020 edition has Miss Universe New Zealand 2016 Tania Dawson at home with a Playstation in its opening spread—though it is probably the highest-profile, as Naomi Campbell took to doing a series of self-portraits using her Iphone for the 50th anniversary of Essence.
Campbell, born the same year as the magazine—indeed, the same month—was the ideal choice for the title aimed at black American women. While selfies—even those done with the cellphone camera set to shoot on a timer, and placed in a correct position—will never be a match for having an entire crew, including a professional photographer, stylist, make-up artist and hairstylist, her efforts are still creditable. No doubt having years of experience in front of the camera helped, as well as the high resolutions offered by modern phones.
The concept was conveyed via Facetime by Essence’s chief content and creative officer MoAna Luu.
Campbell wears a vintage Chloé dress on the cover—complete with a thick white border, which seems to be a late 2010s–early 2020s graphic design trend—and more images appear in the magazine’s May–June 2020 issue. Part of Lola Ogunnaike’s interview with Campbell appears on Essence’s website.
It is the first time the supermodel, whose career began in the 1980s, has photographed herself for a magazine cover.
Naomi Campbell used her iPhone to shoot this month’s Essence cover in honor of her 50th birthday and the 50 year anniversary of Essence Magazine. ✨ pic.twitter.com/HuPbtFfGqQ
— (@blkgirlsrelate) May 7, 2020