Style

Simone Ashley And Jameela Jamil Appear On The Cover Of 'British Vogue'

The March 2024 issue featured 40 famous women to celebrate outgoing editor-in-chief, Edward Enninful.

Simone Ashley and Jameela Jamil on the British Vogue cover

If there’s one magazine cover that has constantly appeared in my social media feeds this week, it’s British Vogue’s May cover.

In what’s a monumental moment for the fashion publication, 40 high-profile women in entertainment and style grace the cover in one stunning frame to celebrate the mag’s outgoing editor-in-chief, Edward Enninful. 

Enniful, whose debut December 2017 cover featured Black model and activist Adwoa Aboah, has been committed to elevating diverse faces and voices in the fashion space over the years. As well as Abdoah and the likes of Oprah Winfrey, Serena Williams, Gemma Chan and Salma Hayek to name a few, it’s thrilling to see Simone Ashley and Jameela Jamil also in the shot. 

The UK has a significantly large South Asian population, and both Ashley and Jamil (of Bridgerton and The Good Place fame, respectively) have played pivotal roles in helping advance South Asian female representation in recent years.

“A day I will always remember. In New York, amongst incredible women, all together celebrating @edward_enninful,” Ashley wrote on her Instagram account alongside a snap of the cover. 

With this being her second cover with Enniful (her first being British Vogue’s December 2022 issue), the 28-year-old expressed her appreciation towards him by adding, “thank you for your loyalty and for sharing your powerful ability to dream big”. 

Jamil, who appeared on the cover of British Vogue’s January 2019 issue, began her Instagram tribute by admitting: “I don't know how I am in this shoot! I kept thinking there had been a mistake on the day... this is so fun and surreal.

“Keeping this to myself has been so hard! What a day this was. What a moment. What an honour to be asked by @edward_enninful to shoot his last British Vogue cover,” the 37-year-old continued. “He is someone I've admired for so long, beyond his talent, he elegantly kicks doors open and changes giant institutions all while maintaining such grace and such fun. And such inimitable style.” 

All 40 of the women jetted into New York from various locations around the world for the special shoot in December last year. Coordinating the logistics of such an exercise is quite a feat, but it seems none of these women needed convincing. Enniful has certainly imprinted his signature personality, work ethic and flair on the publication and the high-profile women who have posed for it. And each of these women believed that was worth celebrating. 

“So here it is: my 76th and final edition of Vogue, six and a half years and 153 cover stars later, including the 40 legendary women who feature on this cover. It’s been an extraordinary ride and an absolute honour,” Enniful wrote in his farewell editor’s letter. 

Enninful was the first man, and the first Black editor, to hold the title of editor-in-chief of British Vogue. He will stay on at Condé Nast to become Vogue’s global creative and cultural adviser and said in his letter that he’s “determined to keep championing the incredible array of voices in fashion and media, and ensure we keep the energy explosion of the last few years going”. 

“We always say it, because it always needs to be said: there is a great deal yet to be done.” 

Simone Ashley on the cover of British Vogue December 22

Simone Ashley on the cover of British Vogue December 22

Jameela Jamil on the cover of British Vogue January 2019

Jameela Jamil on the cover of British Vogue January 2019