Kamala Harris’ magazine cover photo stirs up social media, here’s why

Kamala Harris’ forthcoming appearance in American Vogue has sparked criticism across social media platforms. The Vice-President-elect of the United States was featured as Vogue’s February cover star. The magazine released a digital and a print cover image for its audience, and the latter is drawing a collective chorus of disappointment from netizens.

On the cover, Harris is seen wearing an espresso-colored blazer, black pants and converse sneakers in front of pink and green background. The photo instantly attracted ire on social media for appearing poorly lit and styled, while others suggested it was “disrespectful” to the Vice President-elect.

Some said that shoot wasn’t professional, while some were in the opinion that Kamala Harris’s skin colour may have been lightened and her features have been photoshopped by the magazine, calling the cover a ‘washed out’ mess.

The Vice President-elect posed in a powder blue suit from Michael Kors Collection, paired with a white top, for the digital cover. The images were taken by Tyler Mitchell, who famously became the first Black photographer to shoot an American Vogue when he captured Beyonce for the magazine’s September 2018 issue.

Kamala Harris is not just the first woman, but she is also the first woman of colour to be the VP-elect.