Taraji P. Henson Channels Diana Ross (Again) in Stunning ‘W’ Mag Cover

Taraji P. Henson on the August issue of ‘W’ Magazine, shot by Mert & Marcus. 

It’s safe to say that Empire was the breakout hit of the season. The music, the drama, the cameos – Naomi AND Courtney Love! – and of course, Cookie Lyon.

Taraji P. Henson is an Academy Award-nominated actress, but it is this role, as Queen of the Lyon *ahem* empire, that has finally brought her into that fashion-approved actress territory. Over the past year she was invited not once, but twice, to the Met Gala, and quickly became a darling of Alexander Wang and Balenciaga. This Mert & Marcus-shot cover story for W magazine cements her fashion status.

The inspiration behind Taraji P. Henson’s ‘W’ cover. 

Henson looks drop-dead-gorgeous in a white tee, jeans, and slicked-back hair, clearly channeling Diana Ross’ self-titled 1980 album, DIANA. A flawless inspiration, sure, as no one was more glamorous than Ross in the ‘70s.

Maybe that’s why Allure magazine also chose the disco queen as beauty inspiration when they shot Henson for their July 2015 cover? We love seeing the actress on fashion magazines—she’s a strong, beautiful woman—but come on editors, you gotta think outside the box a little bit more. It’s awesome that you’re all stepping up your diversity game, but there’s more fashion inspiration out there than the one black artist you once universally acknowledged as a fashion icon.

I want to see Henson wearing Celine and minimal makeup standing next to a plant shot by Juergen Teller, I want to see Henson wearing J.W. Anderson sitting at a table full of food and jewelry, in total decadence, shot by Harley Weir. Fashion is supposed to be about fantasy! Let’s keep it that way. For everyone.

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