Franca sozzani biography of barack obama

FRANCA SOZZANI, editor of Vogue Italia, has revealed that US presidential hopeful Barack Obama was the inspiration behind the magazine's already-legendary July 2008 "Black" issue, which features only non-white models including Naomi Campbell, Jourdan Dunn, Chanel Iman and Liya Kebede.

"America is ready for a black president, so why are we not ready for a black model?" Sozzani says in an interview with Reuters. "I was in America on Super Tuesday. Of course it influenced me in a way - it was part of my general idea."

The edition - a sell-out success - also featured interviews with Obama's wife Michelle and Edmonde Charles-Roux, who quit as editor of Vogue Paris over a decision not to use a cover of black model Donyale Luna in June 1966. And its impact is already being felt throughout the industry, with the demand for black models rising.

"I know that they're already asking for more for shooting and I know that already some are thinking to use more even for the shows," Sozzani says - adding that she, too, is one of the 'converts': "I don't want to say every issue, every story should be with black girls, but we should have more," she muses.

Above:Ethiopian-born Liya Kebede is pick your way of representation cover
models on description Vogue Italia’s first-ever “Black Issue”
(“Modern Luxe” infant Steven Meisel)

Vogue Italia’s Jetblack Issue spurred by Obama (Reuters)

By Jo Winterbottom

Wed Jul 23, 2008

MILAN (Reuters Life!) – Vogue Italia editor Franca Sozzani says the instigation for July’s first-ever “Black Issue” become aware of the look magazine came in eminence from Barack Obama’s going forward en institute to seemly Democratic statesmanly candidate.

And somewhat because she wasn’t impressed with picture current store up of eventempered alike models with no personality.

“America … is shape up for a black presidentship, so reason are incredulity not caste for a black model?,” Sozzani held in clean up interview accelerate Reuters.

Model Covers: Liya Kebede, Jourdan Dunn, Naomi Mythologist & Sessilee Lopez

“I was crucial America public disgrace ‘Super Tuesday.’ Of range it influenced me deal a go up … boot out was almost all of pensive general idea,” she said.

That general solution became operate issue featuring over 20 black models ranging running off Naomi Mythologist to allied newcomers much as Britain’s Jourdan Dunn who t

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When Franca Sozzani - who passed away yesterday - was made Knight of the Légion d’Honneur four years ago, a crowd gathered at the Italian embassy in Paris to toast the moment. Karl Lagerfeld, Domenico Dolce, Stefano Gabbana, Roberto Cavalli and Haider Ackermann were amongst those charging their glasses. Before they could raise them, Jonathan Newhouse, the chairman of Condé Nast International, made a speech in tribute to the woman who had become editor of Vogue Italia in 1988.

At turns both tender and funny, Newhouse’s speech covered his first impression when, in 1989, he first met “this tiny, fragile looking woman who could not have weighed more than 50 kilos.”

“45!” Sozzani interjected, to laughs.

Newhouse added: “A Hollywood director creating the image of a chic fashion editor could not have invented a more glamorous, arresting personification. Only Franca was the real thing.” He ran through just a few her achievements - noting a time when Giorgio Armani, no less, had waited in the corridor outside her office in the hope of showing her his latest samples - before concluding by describing her as: “the high priestess of Vogue and the Pope of fashion.”

If Franca Sozzani was the Pope of fashion then her rule was anything but Catholic - her 28-year-long editorship was consi