Caitlyn Jenner and 11 other groundbreaking Vanity Fair covers

By Jorge Rivas | June 1, 2015 | 7:12pm

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Caitlyn Jenner’s public debut on the cover of Vanity Fair is pretty historic, since it appears she is the first openly transgender person to be featured on the cover of the 100-year-old magazine.

It’s also a big deal because Vanity Fair hasn’t traditionally been known for celebrating diversity on its covers. Every now and then, though, the magazine features some groundbreaking cover models.

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Caitlyn Jenner, July 2015

Kerry Washington, August 2013
Washington broke a 10-year hiatus of a black women being featured on the Vanity Fair cover. Before her 2013 appearance, the last time a black woman was featured was in 2005.

And that was Bey, November 2005

Before Beyonce, there was Tina Turner, May 1993
Tina Turner appeared on the cover of Vanity Fair in May 1993 to promote the What’s Love Got to Do with It? movie, soundtrack and tour.

There was also Diana Ross and her hair, March 1989

Roseanne Barr, February 1994

Bianca Jagger, November 1986
The Nicaraguan-born social and human rights advocate graced the cover in November 1986.

Jay Z, November 2013

Cindy Crawford & k.d. Lang, August 1993
Model Cindy Crawford and k.d. Lang made Vanity Fair one of the first mainstream magazines to publish a cover story with a lesbian who was open about her sexuality.

President Barack Obama, March 2009

A few weeks after President Obama’s first inauguration, he appeared in Vanity Fair’s March 2009 issue.

Demi Moore, August 1991

Denzel Washington, October 1995

(Notable important historic mention that should have been a cover)

Whoopi Goldberg, July 1984

This picture of Whoopi Goldberg wasn’t on the cover of Vanity Fair, but it should have been. It did made it to page 36 of the issue, and it’s become one of photographer Annie Leibovitz’s most famous photos.