Dear Gossips,

Angolan model Maria Borges is the first African model to cover American ELLE since 1997 and Alek Wek – as she says, the first of the century. Just to be clear on the math, that’s 20 years. Let’s definitely celebrate Maria. She’s celebrating too:

Honored to be the First African Woman of the Century to be on the cover of @elleusa. Thank you everyone for your support. #AFRICAxELLEUSA pic.twitter.com/n3z7hHd3vM— Maria Borges (@IamMariaBorges) April 11, 2017


As she told the magazine, “The fashion industry is here for everyone, [regardless] of color or race. When I was growing up, I never saw someone like me, and now the other girls can see someone like them. It’s all about inspiration.”

Are we allowed to celebrate Maria Borges but, at the same time, check ELLE? Because it’s been 20 f-cking years. And praising ELLE for putting Maria on the cover might obscure that not insignificant detail. Like, what took so long? Also… is it going to happen again? Will it take that long again?

Maria is getting great publicity right now. And she should. And it’s amazing. But ELLE is also sharing some of that great publicity, as though this one excellent decision negates the 20 years it took to make it.
I’m not sure it should.

Quick programming note: the site will be dark tomorrow as Good Friday is a holiday here in Canada. Today will be light on content too. Full gossip schedule resumes on Monday.

Have a great weekend!

Yours in gossip,

Lainey

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