Not only did legendary photographer Bruce Weber shoot Beyonce with Obama on her fingernails for the cover of the Winter 2008 V56 issue of V Magazine, he also captured her in a playful and fun editorial in which Beyonce poses like a mannequin.
Entitled 'Beyoncé is Back,' the editorial features Beyoncé Knowles as styled by Deborah Watson having fun while planning for her upcoming tour. This includes backstage and wardrobe fun with a bunch of male models including Ryan Vigilant, Terron Wood and Nate Gill.
In the interview, Beyonce talks about her alter ego 'Sasha Fierce', saying "It's a way for me to differentiate what I do onstage from who I really am--It's a way for me to not lose myself, to keep my life in perspective, because it's really hard sometimes to stay on earth when you're a celebrity."
V Magazine's editor-in-chief, Stephen Gan, was very happy about the choice of the issue’s cover model: "Beyonce is a true icon of our time and V Magazine loves everything that she represents, including her new album which lands in about a week! Bruce Weber has captured her classic beauty as well as her fierce onstage persona."
Key Themes Behind This Trend
- Mannequin Poses
- Opportunity for disruptive innovation in retail visual merchandising by incorporating mannequin-inspired poses for models in fashion editorials.
- Alter Ego Branding
- Potential for disruptive innovation in personal branding by adopting alter egos, like Beyonce's 'Sasha Fierce', to differentiate and maintain authenticity.
- Playful Editorial Shoots
- Opportunity for disruptive innovation in editorial photography by embracing playful and fun concepts, as seen in Bruce Weber's Beyonce shoot for V Magazine.
Where This Applies
- Retail
- Retailers can explore incorporating mannequin-inspired poses for models in their visual merchandising strategy, creating a unique and eye-catching shopping experience.
- Personal Branding
- Individuals looking to establish a distinctive personal brand can consider adopting alter egos or personas, like Beyonce's 'Sasha Fierce', to stand out in the market.
- Editorial Photography
- Photographers and publications can experiment with more playful and fun concepts in editorial shoots, attracting attention and engaging audiences in new ways.
