
Kamala Harris‘ alleged upcoming Vogue cover has been widely criticized on social media.
Somewhat ironically flanked by the phrase “By the People, For the People: The United States of Fashion” stands Vice President-elect Kamala Harris, casually dressed as if in between campaign stops (which she may very well have been).
In the photo, Harris sports a black blazer, skinny jeans and white tee, accessorized with a coordinating pair of her now-trademark Converse low-tops and the oft-seen pearl necklace emblematic of her chosen family, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.

The sorority also gets a visual shoutout in the cover’s pink-and-green (the sorority’s colors) backdrop of artfully rumpled silk shantung and brocade, which Harris looks…weirdly transposed upon.
Some social media users are saying Harris looks washed out in the photo while others say the cover’s style doesn’t give her the respect she deserves. Others are saying that it’s just plain bad.

Journalist Yashar Ali tweeted the cover along with the following info:
- The February Vogue cover featuring VP-elect Kamala Harris has been widely criticized on social media this evening. But according to a source familiar with the publication plans, this is not the cover that the Vice President-elect’s team expected.
- In the cover that they expected, Vice President-elect Harris was wearing a powder blue suit. That was the cover that the Vice President-elect’s team and the Vogue team, including Anna Wintour, mutually agreed upon…which is standard for fashion magazines.
- To be clear, this Vogue cover of Vice President-elect Kamala Harris is real. It’s just that per a source familiar, this is not the cover that was mutually agreed upon. The agreed upon cover had VP-elect Harris in a powder blue suit. So folks feel blindsided this evening.
Some fashion magazine news….
— Yashar Ali 🐘 (@yashar) January 10, 2021
1. The February Vogue cover featuring VP-elect Kamala Harris has been widely criticized on social media this evening
But according to a source familiar with the publication plans, this is not the cover that the Vice President-elect's team expected pic.twitter.com/lBC9DnfYNC
Here is a sampling of the Kamala Harris Vogue cover social media comments
Kamala Harris is about as light skinned as women of color come and Vogue still fvcked up her lighting. WTF is this washed out mess of a cover? pic.twitter.com/5O2q0axA0G
— E. Vaughan (@HypeVaughan) January 10, 2021
American vogue has thee worst covers 💔 they didn't do KAMALA justice https://t.co/JvCzNV98qk
— Nina (@Llingajo) January 10, 2021
Folks who don't get why the Vogue cover of VP-elect Kamala Harris is bad are missing the point. The pic itself isn't terrible as a pic. It's just far, far below the standards of Vogue. They didn't put thought into it. Like homework finished the morning it's due. Disrespectful.
— Charlotte Clymer 🏳️🌈 (@cmclymer) January 10, 2021
Vogue knows Kamala Harris loves her sorority, suits, comfortable pants and chuck taylors. So they just jumbled it all together for the cover. Except they couldn't decide whether she is going to a luxe French salon, the Senate floor, or taking a jog. pic.twitter.com/FDNBbcw8tR
— E. Vaughan (@HypeVaughan) January 10, 2021
Anna Wintour needs to go. If the only time her team can properly style a black women is when she’s covered in couture then her tenure has ran it course. Look at how Kamala Harris’ Elle cover straight up bodied Vogue. Electric chair! pic.twitter.com/aBVZIho98P
— MVP Harris (@PTA_Daddy) January 10, 2021
What a mess up. Anna Wintour must really not have Black friends and colleagues. https://t.co/8oCpEPkltU
— Wajahat Ali (@WajahatAli) January 10, 2021