VANITY FAIR HOLLYWOOD ISSUE: BREAKS RECORD WITH TWO AFRICIAN AMERICANS MAKING THE COVER

Vanity Fair just released the cover of its annual Hollywood Issue, and there is something refreshingly different about this year’s installment. Prior to this issue, the most people of color to appear on the cover of Vanity Fair’s Hollywood Issue — one of the year’s most high profile representations of who makes up the top tier of Hollywood talent — was three but this year it's six. Vanity Fair finally recognizes notable black celebrities on its 20th Annual ‘Hollywood’ cover. The cover, beautifully photographed by Annie Leibovitz,

And only four people of color have ever appeared on the actual Hollywood Issue cover, before the fold of the three-paneled image: Djimon Hounsou (in 1998), Thandie Newton (in 1999), Chris Rock (in 2007), and technically, President Barack Obama (in 2009 when his inauguration story overtook the cover of the Hollywood Issue).  

This year, for the first time, two people of color (Ejiofor and Elba) appear on the cover, before the fold.  Other actors included …12 Years a Slave’s Lupita Nyong’o, Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom’s Naomie Harris, and 42’s Chadwick Boseman.

Across the page: Chiwetel Ejifor, Julia Roberts, Idris Elba, George Clooney, Michael B. Jordan, Jared Leto, Lupita Nyong'o, Naomie Harris, Brie Larson, Chadwick Boseman, Margot Robbie and Lea Seydoux grace the cover.

It's so great to see Vanity Fair honoring good talent on all fronts. Hollywood is starting to shift.