Vogue - Narrative

Media Studies: Eduqas GCSE, topic 2.1.3

Vogue Cover Star

The cover star of the July 2021 issue of Vogue is Malala Yousafzai, a prominent figure in the field of education and activism.

Vogue has a long-established brand identity and instantly recognisable style.
They have used the same Didot font for their masthead since the 1950s.
All-uppercase serif font → elegant, classic, and authoritative.
A central placement of the masthead forms part of its brand consistency.
Even when partly covered, the VOGUE logo is so well known that it remains readable, showing the magazine’s power and prestige.

The VOGUE masthead overlaps Malala’s forehead, visually anchoring her as a true “Vogue star”.
The colour silver-grey links to her caption, suggesting dignity, sophistication and strength.
The caption “Survivor, Activist, Legend” constructs Malala’s narrative arc – from victim to global icon.
These design choices communicate that Malala belongs to the same world of icons as any fashion model or celebrity.

The cover uses a limited, confident colour palette: red, silver-grey, black, and white.
Red: power, celebration, courage, passion (reflects Malala’s activism and energy)
Silver-grey: elegance, intellect, calm authority
White: purity, hope, light
Together, these colours communicate a sense of modern glamour mixed with moral strength.

The design follows the rule of thirds and the Z-rule, guiding the viewer’s eye.
Masthead at the top, Malala’s name at the bottom, both framing her face.
The symmetry gives a calm, balanced composition that reflects control and poise.
The medium close-up emphasises both her identity and emotion.
The direct eye contact and a slight smile create a confident, personal mode of address.
The headscarf anchors her cultural identity and signals pride and authenticity.

The July 2021 issue of Vogue focuses on the narrative of heroism, specifically of a powerful young woman.

Media language builds Malala’s personal story visually and verbally:
“Survivor”: overcoming trauma and violence
“Activist”: taking control of her destiny, using her voice
“Legend”: timeless respect and influence
These choices position her not as a victim, but as a strong young woman.
The image and text together create a heroic narrative – echoing Vladimir Propp’s idea of the “hero” archetype.

On the left-hand side, coverlines use minimalist typography (black uppercase headline + italic white subheading).
Topics range from fashion, romance, and celebrity (e.g. “LOVE AFTER LOCKDOWN”).
The alliteration (“Love… Lockdown”) and tone show Vogue’s confidence and expertise.
On the right-hand side, “Vogue’s Guide to Summer Beauty” affirms the brand’s status as the ‘fashion bible’.
Together, these maintain traditional magazine content while balancing Malala’s more serious feature.

Coverline “FIGHTING TALK” features model Jourdan Dunn and boxer Anthony Joshua.
This unusual pairing expands the magazine’s reach beyond traditional fashion audiences.
This shows Vogue under Edward Enninful aimed to challenge expectations and diversify representation.
It reinforces the idea that fashion can engage with strength, activism, and inclusivity.