Joan Smalls Vogue Italia Cover Brings Much-Needed Diversity (PHOTO)

Not only are we stoked that Vogue Italia has put a hashtag on their March cover (can you imagine Anna Wintour slapping "#OVERTHETOP" on the cover of her mag?), but we were also thrilled to see one of our fave models, Joan Smalls, posing on it while spangled in all kinds of accoutrement.

Shot by Steven Meisel, the cover features Smalls looking truly over the top in a Dolce & Gabbana top, brow-high shadow, bold earrings and some wild nail art. If we tried to combine all those things, we guarantee we would look like six-year-olds playing dress-up. But somehow, Joan makes it work.

Fashin points out that the last time Vogue Italia put a model of color on their cover was back in 2008 (in the famous "all black" issue) -- waaaaay too long ago!

The notoriously tech-savvy Vogue Italia has even made a few GIFs of the issue. Anna, are you paying attention?

Click over to Vogue Italia to read more about Joan's shoot, and check out the cover below.

(Via Fashionista)

Comments

[freethoughtgal]

10:31 PM on 03/01/2012

"Black" model (actually, mixed-raced) gets cover, white people freak out. Why, exactly?

[womanofgod]

10:11 PM on 02/29/2012

Uhh....isn't this Beyonce? I don't think it's a run-of-the-mill everyday black model. Just another celebrity. Otherwise she would not be on the cover!

[danielhamilton]

06:14 PM on 02/29/2012

When are we going to see ourselves as people, and not make a distinction about what color our skin is,Like MLK said? We're all people. This whole section, "Black Voices," is racist by definition. The more we segregate ourselves, the longer racism will endure.

[polyform76]

09:14 PM on 02/29/2012

Slow down a bit. Remember that this site is open to anyone of any race to read and post upon. Therefore it isn't segregated. Also, this site discusses a wide range of topics that would be of interest to anyone. I understand what you're trying to say, but I think you're a bit off in how you said it.

[kymber23]

08:24 PM on 03/01/2012

I have to agree with "danielhamilton" for the most part. Our news is worthy of the (mainly white) homepage. The "black voices" page does bother me a bit.

[LiveLaughLove818]

02:39 PM on 02/29/2012

BEAUTIFUL COVER!

[asantewa3]

09:53 AM on 02/29/2012

Joan's father is from the USVI and her mother is native to Puerto Rico. No matter how she sees herself or what ethnicity she considers herself, in the fashion world she is Black. There isn't a distinction made between birthplace or anything else. Wider nose, fuller lips, darker toned skinned (even if you're as light as Joan or Tyra Banks)...all add up to Black.

[mimmi1]

09:23 AM on 02/29/2012

did everyone get up on the wrong side of the bed this morning?

[shellfish789]

11:51 PM on 02/28/2012

Why do women of color that is lighter than a brown paper bag get all the publicity and opportunities?

this woman is very pretty....do you think she would have gotten the job if she was 3 shades darker ?

[rabbitfurcoat]

12:25 AM on 02/29/2012

You know the answer to that but that's a debate for another day LOL

[Sunflo]

07:14 AM on 02/29/2012

Yes.

[flygyrl72]

10:21 PM on 02/28/2012

While the spread is gorgeously styled, the fact remains that this editorial was called a "Haute Mess", spoofing the urban American term "hot mess", i.e. ghetto. And these models were most definitely styled to mimic what is, for the most part, ridiculed & looked down upon by most as fashions/habits of mainly "ghetto" Af-Am. So, for the first time since the all Black issue, 4 years ago, mind you, Vogue chooses to put a Black model on the cover of their Haute Mess/ghetto-fab issue & that's supposed to be awesome? Ummm...whatevs... "much needed diversity" Really? I think not. LOL...

[AceAmir]

12:11 PM on 02/29/2012

This is my first time to comment on huffintonpost, and it's because I wanted to thank you for your insight, wow! Mimicking "urban" styles with clothes almost no one can afford, and using a "non-white model" isn't fashion forward, it's cliche and out of touch. Less stereotypes more beauty.

[kymber23]

08:26 PM on 03/01/2012

I concur.

[bhaines213]

05:59 PM on 02/28/2012

This is a beautiful picture of a beautiful woman. Hopefully, this will be the start of more diversity in all fashion magazines (or all magazines in general).

[Sheree Hawkins]

09:50 AM on 02/28/2012

Strange that whenever white people i.e. mainstream America stamp their approval on something, it's considered art or creative. When we see black women walking down the street like this, we label them as "ghetto!" The model is beautiful and the look is very Avante Garde, however if this was on the worldstarhiphop.com, people would be commenting how "hood" or "urban" this look is.

[mackfm]

11:47 AM on 02/28/2012

YOU GOT IT!!! Sisters have worn these nails for decades and been called ignorant for it. Same for blue/green/pink hair. Now that Sally Hansen is SELLING nail art and Lady Gaga wears "weird" hair, all of a sudden this is cool. Now that whites are obsessed with tanning salons, brown skin is okay now. Since the Kardasians have big butts, it's no longer "hood-rat" but appreciated. whatever . . .

[wiggidywack]

01:02 PM on 02/28/2012

A valid point, but at least people are starting to be more experimental....regardless of how it happened.

[FiredUpRTG]

02:02 PM on 02/28/2012

It's where fashion begins, and the dominant culture adapts it.

[ms.understood]

08:08 AM on 02/28/2012

she's stunning. they made an excellent choice.

[mi4]

01:12 AM on 02/28/2012

I'm always amazed that when ever an article about race (mainly blacks) is written..the experts in race relations (whites) will get on these boards and show their profound ignorance of all things black. After all this time, you still pretend to be clueless...

[dblueII]

12:29 AM on 02/28/2012

Off topic, but WTF is a hash tag? I just got used to calling it a pound sign, what ever that's supposed to mean. It used to just be the number symbol.

[Hush2001]

03:46 AM on 02/28/2012

it's something twitter users use. It's really stupid if you ask me. You use the pound sign infront of a word or phrase and it links you to that topic. Like: #huffpost. I dont have a twitter but I have a facebook and people use it all the time (even though it ONLY works on twitter)

[cuteliberalchick]

12:05 AM on 02/28/2012

she is cute

[chazzman4]

11:53 PM on 02/27/2012

It would be hard to find an urban Brazilian with out some Black/African blood/DNA. If Africa is where ALL Humans evolved, then what the heck are we discussing?? Eh? GBA