Best and Worst 2020 Magazine Covers

This year was definitely an interesting one for our favorite glossies. It kicked off with news of Glenda Bailey departing Harper’s Bazaar after 19 years. Then the pandemic hit forcing magazines to get creative when it came to producing content. Vogue Paris’ Emmanuelle Alt and InStyle‘s Laura Brown rose to the occasion. Other editors also stepped things up. Edward Enninful thanked frontline workers with a trio of British Vogue covers, while American Vogue‘s Anna Wintour delivered a symbolic cover featuring a previously unpublished Irving Penn photo.

Social injustice also had an impact on glossies this year. Two black artists illustrated covers for American Vogue‘s all-important September issue. Meanwhile, British Vogue‘s September cover focused on activism.

We’re also pleased to see diversity increase across all categories this year. There was a record-breaking bump in racial inclusivity. Along with smaller spikes in size, age and gender representation. Bottom line? The numbers are encouraging. But there’s real concern that these hikes are only temporary. We’ll have to wait and see what 2021 brings.

Now that 2020 is coming to a close, it’s time to look back at its highs and lows. Here are the best and worst 2020 magazine covers.

Best and Worst 2020 Magazine Covers

HIT: Vogue Brazil March 2020 Alek Wek by Luigi & Iango

Alek Wek starred on Vogue Brazil’s March offering captured by Luigi & Iango. The outcome was stunning with Alek striking a confident pose decked out in Saint Laurent.
MISS: Vogue Portugal April 2020 Bibiana Baltovicova and Adam Bardy by Branislav Simoncik

Vogue Portugal fell under immediate scrutiny when it dropped its April cover showcasing Bibiana Baltovicova and Adam Bardy kissing while donning masks. The image lensed by Branislav Simoncik came across as extremely tasteless and tacky.
HIT: Harper's Bazaar April 2020 Gigi Hadid by Mario Sorrenti

Over the years, our forum members have been hard on Glenda Bailey. But her final issue at the helm of Harper's Bazaar was definitely a winner. Gigi Hadid took to the cover in a Givenchy haute couture creation snapped by Mario Sorrenti.
MISS: Vogue Germany May 2020 Helen Mirren, Sharon Stone and Iris Berben by Liz Collins

Sadly, it’s very rare to see women over 50 grace the covers of glossies. Quite frankly, Helen Mirren, Sharon Stone and Iris Berben deserved a whole lot more than lackluster styling and weak photography from Liz Collins while fronting Vogue Germany.
HIT: Vogue Paris May/June 2020 Bella and Gigi Hadid by Inez Van Lamsweerde and Vinoodh Matadin

Emmanuelle Alt has received nothing but praise throughout 2020 giving our forum members glamour when they needed it most. Like this pair of dazzling covers featuring Bella and Gigi Hadid lensed by Inez Van Lamsweerde and Vinoodh Matadin.
MISS: Allure June/July 2020 Emma Chamberlain by Lindsay Ellary

While our forums have seen worse over the years, our forum members were left almost speechless when Allure dropped this awkward shot of YouTube sensation Emma Chamberlain for June/July.
HIT: UK Vogue June 2020 Judi Dench by Nick Knight

Leave it to Edward Enninful to drop a historic cover. Back in June, a then 85-year-old Judi Dench became the magazine's oldest cover star ever. Thankfully, Nick Knight's photography did the legendary actress justice.
MISS: Vogue Japan July 2020 Kendall Jenner by Giampaolo Sgura

Kendall Jenner can never catch a break on our forums. Vogue Japan's July 2020 cover was no exception since it featured a lifeless Kendall before the lens of Giampaolo Sgura.
HIT: Vogue June/July 2020 by Irving Penn

Unable to produce fresh content toward the beginning of the pandemic, Anna Wintour dug into the archives and selected this beautiful shot by Irving Penn for Vogue's double June/July edition.
MISS: Vogue Portugal July/August 2020 by Branislav Simoncik

Vogue Portugal once again landed itself in hot water by publishing a questionable cover depicting mental illness. It was ultimately pulled from newsstands.
HIT: UK Harper's Bazaar July 2020 Ashley Graham by Justin Ervin

Due to the pandemic, cover subjects were often asked to photograph themselves. British Harper's Bazaar asked Ashley Graham and her husband Justin Ervin to create its July cover feature with spectacular results.
MISS: UK Vogue September 2020 The Faces of Hope

For September, Edward Enninful decided to highlight activism. While we commend the mag for tackling important social issues, our forum members were longing for some fashion and glamour.
HIT: Marie Claire August 2020 Janet Mock by Luke Gilford

Unfortunately, diversity isn't always on the agenda for magazines. So we were beyond thrilled to see writer, director and activist Janet Mock on Marie Claire's gorgeous August digital cover.
MISS: Vogue Italia September 2020 by Mark Borthwick

At the start of the year, Italian Vogue produced an issue which involved zero photoshoots. The magazine soon made up for it by putting out a whopping 100 covers for its September issue featuring everyone from Bethann Hardison to Kaia Gerber.
HIT: Vanity Fair September 2020 Breonna Taylor by Amy Sherald

Vanity Fair gave us an emotional moment when it served up a beautiful painting of Breonna Taylor by artist Amy Sherald for its September issue, which was guest edited by Ta-Nehisi Coates.
MISS: UK ELLE October 2020 Alicia Vikander by Hans Feurer

If there's one actress with a dreadful track record when it comes to magazine covers, it’s Alicia Vikander. So it came as no surprise to see the Louis Vuitton brand ambassador deliver a lackluster October cover of British ELLE, even with Hans Feurer behind the lens.
HIT: Vogue Spain November 2020 Indya Moore by Thomas Whiteside

Vogue Spain made history with its November offering featuring a Bottega Veneta-clad Indya Moore, the mag's first-ever transgender cover star.
MISS: Vogue October 2020 Lizzo by Hype Williams

It's not every month we see a plus-size woman of color down at the newsstand. But Lizzo deserved much better than this mediocre cover.
HIT: Vogue Poland December 2020 Anja Rubik by Anja Rubik

Vogue Poland gave total creative control to Anja Rubik to close out 2020. The Polish beauty and firm forum favorite created a trio of powerful covers highlighting women's rights.
MISS: Vogue Japan December 2020 Bella Hadid by Luigi & Iango

Our forum members love Bella Hadid, especially when she's captured by photographic duo Luigi & Iango. However, thanks to bad styling, Bella's December cover of Vogue Japan was a definite miss.