Beyoncé's history-making September issue of Vogue is here, and with it a deeply personal collection of words about pregnancy, body acceptance, and the legacy she wants to leave in this world.
The artist revealed images of the cover on Instagram on Monday, and the text accompanying her photos is now up on Vogue's website.
SEE ALSO: The iconic works of art you missed in Beyoncé and Jay-Z's 'Apesh*t' videoIn July, HuffPost reported that Queen Bey had secured total control over the issue from Editor-in-Chief Anna Wintour — meaning she could choose the cover, the captions, and even the photographs that would be included.
It was then announced that 23-year-old photographer Tyler Mitchell would be shooting her photographs, marking the first time black photographer will have shot a Voguecover in the magazine's history. But now, despite reports that Beyoncé made all the magazine decisions herself, according to Business of Fashion, Wintour said, "The concept and the photographer was entirely Vogue’s, specifically Raul's" — in reference to creative director Raul Martinez.
On Monday morning, Beyoncé shared several photographs from her Vogueshoot, including two cover shots with the captions, "Everyone's voice counts," and "Beyoncé in her own words."
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View this post on Instagram
Though, a HuffPost reported, Beyoncé didn't grant an interview for the issue — she also did no interview for her September 2015 Vogue cover — the artist did speak with Culture Editor at Jezebel Clover Hope about herself "in her own words."
Topics covered include the challenges she faced when giving birth to her twins Rumi and Sir, her struggle with body acceptance, her family history, her decision to tap Mitchell to photograph the cover, her Coachella performance, she and Jay-Z's On the Run II tour, and more.
On the topic of motherhood and family, and what she hopes for her own children and future generations, she said:
"My mother taught me the importance not just of being seen but of seeing myself. As the mother of two girls, it’s important to me that they see themselves too—in books, films, and on runways. It’s important to me that they see themselves as CEOs, as bosses, and that they know they can write the script for their own lives—that they can speak their minds and they have no ceiling. They don’t have to be a certain type or fit into a specific category. They don’t have to be politically correct, as long as they’re authentic, respectful, compassionate, and empathetic. They can explore any religion, fall in love with any race, and love who they want to love.
I want the same things for my son. I want him to know that he can be strong and brave but that he can also be sensitive and kind. I want my son to have a high emotional IQ where he is free to be caring, truthful, and honest. It’s everything a woman wants in a man, and yet we don’t teach it to our boys.
I hope to teach my son not to fall victim to what the internet says he should be or how he should love. I want to create better representations for him so he is allowed to reach his full potential as a man, and to teach him that the real magic he possesses in the world is the power to affirm his own existence."
You can read the full piece, and see ten of the photographs to be included in the issue on Vogue.com.
UPDATE: Aug. 6, 2018, 1:50 p.m. EDT Updated to include a statement from 'Vogue' Editor-in-Chief, Anna Wintour.
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