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| "Simply The Best" album, 1991 German Vogue cover, 2013 |
Second Look: Tina Turner
Tina Turner has shattered the glass ceiling, at least in
publishing terms. This April, German Vogue has put the rock and roll legend on its
cover with some splashy fashion spreads inside.
To date, the oldest cover ‘girl’ was Meryl Streep featured on the American edition in January 2012 when she was 62. Even More magazine favors celebs in their 40s and 50s as its cover subjects.
Kicking out Racism, Sexism and Ageism
Tina (born Anna Mae Bullock) started her musical career in l957 as Little Anna with her husband, Ike Turner. After ending the abusive marriage, she began a solo career in her second life. She was known for her musical talent as well as those fabulous legs. Maybe she kicked out the ceiling.
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| Anna Mae Bullock . . . |
Here’s hoping American Vogue-- it currently has the "Queen
Bee" as in Beyonce, 32, on its April edition --recognizes like its European counterpart that beauty and talent knows no number. As Caryl learned all too well from her InStyle days, the real determinant in
any magazine cover subject is “Will it
sell?” (By the way, there was a time when editors and publishers believed women
of color couldn’t move magazines but that barrier’s been broken.) By voting at the newsstand, the box office and the concert hall, we can tell marketers that older is still relevant and age doesn't matter. Or, as Tina herself might have said it (paraphrasing her
first solo hit single): “What's age got to do with it?”
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| . . .first performed as Litte Anna before changing her name to Tina after marrying Ike Turner. |
In Their Prime of Life
And speaking of Vogue USA, Anna Wintour was just promoted to
artistic director of Conde Nast. At 63, she will maintain her magazine responsibilities as editor of Vogue and editorial director of Teen Vogue but
also oversee all the other titles. Wintour tweeted that her new
position’s “almost like being a one
person consulting-firm” advising the other editors about their brands. In this role, she can personally change the
magazine landscape by putting women of any age on the front page. And why shouldn’t she? She herself is
breaking down the glass ceiling as is Martha Nelson, the newly-appointed—and
first female—editor in chief at Time Inc. There had been some speculation that
Wintour, who was a big Obama supporter, was angling for an ambassador post in her native England and
might leave Vogue after 25 years on the job.
Charles H. Townsend, the chief of Conde Nast, said: “I would go to great distances to avoid losing
Anna, particularly in the prime of her career.” Love that word prime. Now that term has legs.
See more photos of Tina over her 50 year career and watch her perform "Simply The Best".
I think this is pretty fantastic.
ReplyDeleteAssuming they Photoshop (hard to imagine any magazine doesn't do so, even on the 15-year olds), I do hope they don't overdo it. In my opinion, that would undermine the real significance of celebrating this woman's talent, vibrancy, and gutsiness.
I agree, the term 'Photoshop' came to mind. She's gorgeous without it, so it's a real shame.
ReplyDeleteI wish/hope/pray I look as good as she does when I'm in my 60's let alone my 70's!!
ReplyDeleteOk, but Tina does NOT look like Tina. AT all....just sayin'
ReplyDeleteIt gets tougher and tougher to meet "today's beauty standards" as Photoshop distorts what we consider normal. Phenomenal women in teens, 20s and 30s are reworked to non-human perfection. So can you imagine what they'd do with women in their 60s and 70s? Maybe it's better for our self image that we're NOT on magazine covers ... ;-)
ReplyDeleteEven if they did a bit of Photoshop, I'm just delighted that a woman over 40 is in the spotlight. It seems as though more and more mature women are receiving attention for their beauty and power where women over 40 (and even more so women over 50) have been ignored by the popular media. Go, Tina!
ReplyDeleteTian is a beast and a survivor. I know the owner of the house where she lives in Switzerland. He says she is fun and riot to be around!
ReplyDeleteI love that Tina is on the cover. However I've seen other recent photos of her and, unfortunately, the photos of her face look very PhotoShopped (is that a word?) Despite that I'm thrilled she is Vogue's cover girl. There are so many other 70ish year olds who could grace the cover - Jane Fonda comes to mind. We collectively have to help push that glass ceiling - again and again and again. Great post!
ReplyDeletePhotoshop seems to be synonymous with fashion photography these days no matter what age. Keep in mind Tina admits to having some plastic surgery. As is pointed out, at least she made the cover. And she seems like a riot to be around. I'd love to be her neighbor.
ReplyDelete