Caitlyn Jenner Introduces Herself on the Cover of Vanity Fair
At the time of publication, #CallMeCaitlyn is the number 1 trending organic hashtag on Facebook and Twitter. This hashtag represents a seminal inflection point for the former Bruce Jenner — now re-birthed as Caitlyn — who covers the July issue of Vanity Fair: no longer is he in the process of changing. She and her crucial pronoun have changed.
Caitlyn looks bold and proud and downright gorgeous while wearing a white bodysuit with a brazen pose. Annie Leibovitz’ lens captured the smirking Jenner, whose muscular thighs remain a focal point of the shot. They could have been cropped so as to focus on Caitlyn’s new bust. However, Jenner’s remain a keepsake of her former Olympic life; a tribute to all that she accomplished; a reminder of how closely physical power is connected to mental strength.
The cover broke with a blunt tweet from the Vanity Fair account (possibly perpetuating Twitter’s most recent status as the source for breaking news): “Caitlyn Jenner poses for Annie Lebovitz on the cover of Vanity Fair.”
Shortly following, VF tweeted a quote by Jenner from the interview that has not yet been released for public consumption: “I’m not doing this to be interesting, I’m doing this to live.”
In the minutes that have passed, streams of tweets have been submitted under the hashtag to glowing 140-character reviews. And it’s true — Caitlyn looks great. She espouses a level of femininity that many of us struggle to achieve, but of course, that’s not the real story. The real story is about bravery. Change. Self-love. Acceptance.
What’s equally impressive is Caitlyn’s no-bullshit-no-sell-out attitude about her sex change. In lieu of accepting the hefty price tag that could have come with a more commercial cover story, the sense is that the celebrity step-parent of insurmountable Kardashian fame seemingly favored guaranteed intellect, the possibility of feeling understood over whatever financial upswing would have been inferred from the more capitalistically-driven option of reveal, which adds an incredibly dynamic layer to the humanity and vulnerability of Jenner.
But we want to hear what you have to say, too.
Will this cover engage us to think about Caitlyn Jenner in a way that is more emblematic of Vanity Fair’s principle and policy (politically, intellectually) than if it were to have debuted on the cover of, say, People Magazine?
Does this turn a new leaf for what we consider to be emblematic of the American Family, of our conception of the American Dynasty, as a reflection of various movements? Consider monumental Vanity Fair covers of the past, like that of The Kennedys or The Clintons, as Emma Hager points out.
Is it merely a coincidence that Jenner appears in a white body suit so reminiscent of the style American icon Marilyn Monroe was frequently photographed in, or is it with purpose? This cover was released on June 1. The late Marilyn Monroe’s birthday.
Finally, is there something to Caitlyn’s name choice? A separation, finally, from the Kardashian klan? You’ll note that Caitlyn very loudly, obviously and purposefully does not begin with K.
— Written by Leandra and Amelia
Read more about gender politics and fashion here. Read about Kim and Kanye on the cover of Vogue here, and check out our Round Table on Kim Kardashian’s infamous Paper Magazine cover, here.
