Classy vs. Trashy- Kamala Harris Vouge Cover Controversy

Anaya Quayyum '24

Vice President Kamala Harris caused an uproar when she was featured on the cover of Vogue. In the February issue, a dark jacket by Donald Deal is worn with skinny jeans, Converse, and a pearl necklace. She stands in front of a green leaf backdrop with a pink curtain flowing out of it, hands clasped at her waist. Critics slammed the cover, calling it "unflattering" and "unprofessional." Ms. Harris's staff claimed they were unaware of Vogue's decision to change the photographs because they had not seen the magazine's final selection since they did not have contractual cover approval rights. Critics argued that the casual cover was unprofessional when the United States desperately needed mature and robust leadership. However, the pictures our leaders and role models portray are extremely important to us. They continue to impact our perceptions of what authority looks like and how our identity changes. The "digital cover" of Vogue magazine was released just as the public's heated opinions about Ms. Harris began to emerge. It featured her in a powder blue Michael Kors Collection suit with an American flag pin on her lapel. Many thought her arms crossed in an executive power pose against a gold curtain was much more appropriate for the vice president of the United States. Others believed that the previous cover gave Ms. Harris an approachable charm, while critics argued it was inappropriate. The public reaction to Ms. Harris' Vogue cover demonstrates how desperately the American people require a leader