Emma is on the cover of the December issue of British Vogue! The beautiful photoshoot was shot by Alasdair McLellan, who’s worked with Emma many times before. This is a big contribution to the promotion of the movie “Little Women“, which stars Emma, Saoirse Ronan, Florence Pugh and Eliza Scanlen, and is currently set to premiere at Christmas. Our gallery has been updated with images from the issue!
The age of influence, it’s said, is upon us. Whether on the front row or on the front benches – or simply leaning over our smartphones – we have more eyes on each other than at any time in history. As is also often said these days, it’s a lot.
Of course, in the fashion industry and across social media, the concept of an “influencer” has evolved in a few short years into one that we all fully understand. Many influencers are now stars in their own right, while millions more around the globe, armed with a new handbag and a winning filter, continue to strive for clicks and likes. It’s an important sea change, but I do sometimes wonder how many are doing anything truly useful with this modern superpower.
Emma Watson is one woman getting it right. Since she was cast as Hermione Granger in the Harry Potter franchise 20 years ago (aged just nine), she has been one of the most recognisable faces on the planet. Famous in practically every corner of the world, she accumulated influence the old-fashioned way; coming of age in the digital era means she now finds herself with a cross-platform following of over 100 million engaged and devoted fans.
What Emma did next was nothing short of extraordinary. Instead of pursuing a traditional celebrity path – making back-to-back blockbusters or launching a brand – the actor’s personal sense of social justice drove her to turn her platform into a place where she could highlight the issues that she – and, crucially, the broad group of activists she surrounds herself with – finds most pressing.
She has become a genuine thought leader for many young people today, championing issues such as sustainability in fashion, reproductive rights and intersectional feminism. Memorably, Nobel Peace Prize recipient Malala Yousafzai once told Emma that hearing her speak at the UN in 2014 made her finally feel comfortable enough to self-identify as a feminist. As writer and fellow activist Paris Lees discovers in the December issue, Emma is devoted to amplifying voices – and she is refreshingly candid, reflecting as never before on the realities of her life as she approaches her 30th birthday in 2020. I am delighted to be able to celebrate her in Vogue.
Celebration is what this time of year is all about. I always have a soft spot for December issues. No matter how trying the world at large can seem, they should always provide some happy escape. That has certainly proved the case here, where the mantra is: if you can’t go for it at this time of year, when can you? And so you will find our pages teeming with colour, major jewels, bold make-up, puffball skirts, lace, feathers and everything in between. It’s the season to go a little wild and have a little fun. For inspiration, look no further than Tickled Pink, where photographers Mert Alas and Marcus Piggott and stylist Benjamin Bruno offer a masterclass in cool extravagance.
And we’ve assembled the guest list to match. Whether it’s the best in festive advice from Kate Moss, Diane Keaton and Irina Shayk, the wittiest opinions (courtesy of David Sedaris) or moving tales (from Olivia Williams), you will find it all.
Lizzo – the American singer, rapper, flautist and all-round powerhouse who captivated the world this year – also deserves a crowning moment. I can’t remember a musical artist who has so united the staff here at Vogue. It was in New York earlier this year, when she performed “Juice” at Idris and Sabrina Elba’s post-Met Gala party, that I completely fell in love with her. She was a force of nature, up on the bar, preaching her message of take-no-prisoners self-care: 2019 will go down as the year of Lizzo. Her special brand of influence acts like an antidote. Enjoy!