Vogue is marking 125 years of fashion with its March 2017 issue. This cover aims to celebrate diversity and emphasize that there is not a uniform “American girl.”

Story by Alexis Tatum

Given the current political climate, the magazine attempts to make an important statement. The recent controversy surrounding immigration and citizenship in the United States is leading some to wonder what an American looks like. Let’s take a look at how “diverse” Vogue can be.

Playful Shorts

Each model featured is wearing a completely different pair of shorts. Not a single pair of shorts match. One pair is pink with flowers. Another pair is blue with flowers. These differences are groundbreaking.

Ashley Graham: “Plus Size” Model

Ashley Graham almost looks the size of the average American woman on this cover. Squint your eyes when you look at her, because she’s suspiciously hidden behind the other models. Who knew that models could have different body shapes?  

Racial Diversity

Though all seven of these women possess Eurocentric features and are mostly light-skinned, they’re not all white. We know they look like they are, but if you squint and tilt your head a little, you’ll find some melanin. Trust us.

Ashley Graham: The Rebel

While every other model posed with her arms wrapped around the girl beside her, Ashley Graham heroically stands out with her arm on her leg! The photo instantly becomes less uniform, further embracing the difference of this lovely lady from the rest.

The Manifold of Ages

In an attempt to crush the idea that to be beautiful, you must be young, Vogue creatively used a group of models that are diverse in age. All of them are in their twenties, but hear us out. Gigi Hadid is seven months older than Kendall Jenner. That’s right people, seven months.

Height Variation

Each of these tall and slender ladies probably look the same height but they cannot all have the exact same height. Just because you can’t see the difference doesn’t mean there isn’t a few centimeters in variation.

So what if these models are pretty much all the same height, age, weight, and color? It’s the thought that counts right? While we appreciate the effort by Vogue towards an inclusive fashion industry, this cover is definitely not enough.

Runways around the world have always showcased thin models who meet Eurocentric standards of beauty. The fashion industry fails to realize that representation goes beyond a tan and a few extra pounds on a magazine cover. This celebration of American women should present a much wider spectrum.

To truly embrace diversity and set an example for major fashion retailers everywhere, Vogue must become inclusive towards those of all body types, skin colors, facial structures, ages, weights and heights. In this way, they can show that there is no one way to be beautiful.