When one is given the task of putting together Vogue‘s biggest issue of the year, one does not make any decision lightly.
And for Duchess Meghan, who was bestowed the history-making honour, this statement could not ring any truer.
Indeed, the announcement detailing the royal’s involvement in putting together the September issue of British Vogue swept the globe in the blink of an eye, but there was one big question on everyone’s lips as the glorious news spread: What would its pages hold at the hand of Meghan?
Well, we can all but wonder no more, because as the official release date of the new issue draws closer, we’re getting plenty of information about what the royal has decided to focus the issue on.
With the overriding theme ‘Forces For Change’, Megan has highlighted a collection of trailblazing changemakers, all of whom are “united by their fearlessness in breaking barriers,” read a statement from Buckingham Palace.
And instead of appearing on the cover herself, like many other celebrity names who’ve collaborated with the magazine previously, the Duchess decided to highlight 15 women who encapsulate the above statement.
Meghan has handpicked some inspiring women to highlight in her edit of Vogue.
(SussexRoyal)From talented actors and activists, to political powerhouses and climate change advocates, there’s no shortage of inspiring females who have been hand-selected by the powerful royal herself to grace the cover and share their stories with the magazine.
What’s also very exciting about the collaboration is the fact that in itself, the September issue is traditionally the most widely read of the year.
Meghan no doubt had this in mind when it came to creating it, as she’s clearly put a lot of thought into each of these women, and what they represent.
So to prove this, we’ve taken a look at each of these inspiring females below.
Prepare for an extravaganza of inspiration, empowerment and all round warm fuzzies – these ladies are true forces of nature.
WATCH: Meghan Markle’s powerful speech on NZ’s Women’s Suffrage will give you goosebumps. Story continues after video…
Jacinda Ardern
As Prime Minister of New Zealand and empowering female pillar in global politics, Ardern is an unstoppable force who has captured the hearts of millions worldwide.
Becoming the second woman in the world to give birth while in office, the Kiwi PM has stood out for her brave decision-making (even when she’s been heavily scrutinised) in order to help cultural and social minorities who are often overlooked.
One of her most incredible moments came at the beginning of this year when the South Island city of Christchurch experienced a mass shooting at a Mosque.
Powerful images of Ardern swept the world in the days following the distressing event, which left 51 people dead and an entire community in mourning.
Ardern’s genuine compassion not only as a leader, but as a fellow Kiwi citizen was clear. She was seen wearing a head scarf and embracing members of the Muslim community the following day. She also shared some emotional words about the minority community that were repeated, and likely will be for years to come: “They are us. The person who has perpetuated this violence against us is not.”
Jane Fonda
As a screen legend, we’d be surprised if you hadn’t heard of this stunning 81-year-old.
What you might not be as familiar with however, is her dedication and passion for political and social causes.
An outspoken advocate for the Me Too movement, which fights against sexual harassment in the workplace, Fonda is a strong and independent role model many women continue to be inspired by.
Salma Hayek
Another familiar face on Meghan’s list is the stunning Mexican American film actress Salma Hayek Pinault.
The Hollywood stalwart was also outspoken when the Me Too movement came about, alleging her own harrowing account of harassment at the hands of Harvey Weinstein.
Her bravery was applauded, and her talent is undeniable. We’re here for this iconic actress.
Jameela Jamil
To say that Jameela knows how to speak her mind would be an understatement.
This beautiful British actress and presenter has already garnered a huge social media presence for her body positive advocacy, which she speaks candidly about via her Instagram page.
She also single-handedly started the I Weigh movement, which encourages women to define themselves by their unique quirks, skills and personality traits, as opposed to what they look like on the outside.
Greta Thunberg
The first thing you might think of upon clapping eyes on Greta is her age. But she is case and point for proving its irrelevance.
At 16-years-old, the Swedish activist has single-handedly kick-started a global movement for young people fighting against climate change.
Her big moment came when she choose not to attend school and instead stood outside the Swedish parliament in protest for immediate action to combat climate change in 2018. Her bold action has since swept the globe.
By March 2019, she had an entire troop of teenagers who did the exact same thing, choosing to miss school in strike and protest.
The inspiring student has been recognised for her incredible work through prizes and awards, including being nominated for a Nobel Peace Prize.
Christy Turlington
Meghan is a big fan of Christy and so are we. The 50-year-old model has worked hard to raise money for charitable causes, including her own self-founded charity Every Mother Counts, which works to give women access to maternity care.
Gemma Chan
Actress and advocate, Gemma Chan shot to fame for her role in Crazy Rich Asians, which was released last year.
Since then, we’ve seen the Brit rise in leaps and bounds, and her work for charitable causes has not gone unnoticed. We’re sure we’ll be seeing a lot more of her in the coming years.
Laverne Cox
Laverne is a transgender actor and LGBTQIA+ advocate known for her role in hit TV series Orange is the New Black.
A strong and outspoken advocate for transgender rights and acceptance, she’s an incredible addition to the list of amazing women.
Adut Akech
A 19-year-old model from South Sudan, Adut was raised in Kenya before relocating to South Australia.
She has since modelled for some of the world’s biggest brands, including Calvin Klein, Burberry and even Duchess Meghan’s favourite, Givenchy.
Speaking to the Daily Telegraph about the moment she found out Meghan had chosen her to feature in Vogue, she said: “I couldn’t believe that she was calling me an inspiration.”
Ramla Ali
Originally from Somali, Ramla is a boxer who has garnered a following for her work in teaching self defence to Muslim women.
She was also the first Muslim woman to win an English boxing title, despite keeping her involvement in the sport a secret from her strict family for a long time.
She recalled being called out when her cover was eventually blown, telling BBC Sport Africa: “[My family] were like ‘Look, you need to stop. Why are you showing skin? A Muslim girl shouldn’t be doing this, it’s a man’s sport – what’s the community going to think?”
Francesca Hayward
A talented ballerina who was born in Nairobi, Francesca is one of the lesser known faces in Meghan’s hand-chosen bunch of women.
In a previous interview, she told Vogue, “I’m very proud of the colour of my skin and that I’m inspiring people from all backgrounds. But I think it will be great for the next mixed-race or black female Principal dancer that she doesn’t have to be asked about that.”
Yara Shahidi
Yara is a 19-year-old actress and activist who founded inspiring platform Eighteen x 18, which encourages young people to get active and vote.
Starring in hit shows Grown-ish and Black-ish, the stunning young actress no doubt has big things ahead.
Sinéad Burke
A famed Irish writer, academic and activist, Sinéad Burke is most definitely a ‘Force For Change’.
In particular, her work has involved campaigning for companies in the fashion industry to design products for minorities – imploring brands to be diverse by encouraging inclusive designs of all shapes and sizes.
Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
Chimamanda is an author who has won awards for her work, which encompasses all ends of the spectrum, from short stories to non-fiction and novels.
Originally from Nigeria, the inspiring writer’s work has focussed a lot on the injustices from the Biafran war in Nigeria during the late 1960s.
Adwoa Aboah
Mixed race model Adwoa Aboah, 27, is an advocate for mental health, having worked with iconic company Barbie in a striking campaign to encourage people to rethink the way beauty is perceived, as well as celebrating diversity.
This also isn’t her first time on the cover of British Vogue, the stunning British model appeared on the December 2017 cover, and was voted Model of the Year for Models.com.
