Who will cover the last September issue of American Vogue with Anna Wintour as editor?

Dear Gossips,

It was big news a couple of weeks ago when it was announced that Anna Wintour was stepping down as the editor of American Vogue – but as I said at the time, most people overreacted. Because Anna is retaining multiple titles at Condé Nast which will keep her as the big boss of the Vogue brand.

What she’s (ostensibly) relinquished is day-to-day control at one publication. But … probably… not before tying up most of the important details for American Vogue’s most important issue: the September issue. I can’t imagine she would have vacated before making sure that the September issue was almost locked. And the timing supports that because by the end of June, it would only be about six weeks or so before the September issue drops. We just talked about Anne Hathaway covering the August issue, which came out this week, so we’ll probably find out about the September issue in a month or so.

Do you remember who covered the September issue of American Vogue last year in 2024? It was released online on August 7, and it was Blake Lively, the same week that It Ends With Us opened in theatres. And just as the mess was beginning. What was supposed to be a series of triumphs – Vogue cover, hit movie, hosting SNL (she ended up pulling out) – turned into the biggest gossip sh-tstorm we’ve seen in years.

Who do you think it will be this year? Some possibilities include:

Jennifer Aniston – as noted in yesterday’s site open, The Morning Show season four will premiere in September and it’s been a minute since she’s covered the magazine.

Julia Roberts – she leads Luca Guadagnino’s all-star cast in After the Hunt, releasing in the fall, and will likely have its world premiere in Venice at the end of August, early September. The timing is perfect.

Cynthia Erivo and/or Ariana Grande – Wicked 2 in the fall, and also, Cynthia did such a great job hosting the Tony Awards, Anna Wintour is a major Broadway patron.

Cardi B – the new album comes out in September and she’s having a moment in Paris right now.

BLACKPINK – all four members, Jennie, Jisoo, Lisa, and Rosé are fashion girls signed to major fashion houses. Also, they’re on tour, and the new single, “Jump” drops on Friday.

Sydney Sweeney – it’s time, and she’ll get one eventually, but she just covered W Magazine’s summer issue so Sydney’s Vogue moment might have to wait until 2026.

Lindsay Lohan – Freakier Friday comes out the same weekend that It Ends With Us did last year and there’s a whole generation of Vogue’s audience living for this sequel. But like Sydney, Lindsay covered ELLE just a couple of months ago.

Zoë Saldaña – she’s never covered American Vogue, she started the year as the Best Supporting Actress Oscar winner and will finish it with a blockbuster, Avatar: Fire and Ash, due out in December. The September issue might be a bit early but she is well overdue for this.

Do have any suggestions?

Yours in gossip,

Lainey