Meet The 21-Year-Old Who Shot Beyonce For 'British Vogue'
Take a moment to stop and think about what you were up to at the age of 21. I know personally, I was somewhere down in Alabama, hanging on to graduating from college, and just content with finally being able to (legally) buy my own cheap vodka. Not that I was striving for the bare minimum, I was just clueless about the power of manifestation. Sure, aspirations and journeys happen for each of us at our own pace, but at that time, chiiiiiiile, somethings just weren't even on the menu for me.
But as for some 21-year-olds, some absolutely know the power of their own mind. Kennedi Carter, is a walking testimony to that because Carter, at the mere age of 21, is the youngest, and second black person ever, to photograph for Vogue.
And in case this isn't impressive enough for you, she shot, not one. Not two. But three covers...of Beyonce. Let that sink in.
Of the shoot, Carter said:
"It didn't feel like it was real. Some days it still doesn't feel like it actually happened. We're holding a door open currently because it's not going to be just me or [Mitchell] taking images and doing covers; it's going to be more of us."
Mitchell, being Tyler Mitchell, who was the first person who shot for Vogue in its 125-year history, and who also was chosen by Beyonce.
She continued:
"I was just going with the flow. I had done a lot of research into how she works, and I had underestimated how much she's willing to submit herself to a vision and truly become someone else's muse."
A follow-up assignment for Carter consisted of sis nagging a Rolling Stone cover, featuring Summer Walker and Erykah Badu. The image donned colorful imagery of the two crooners, for a feature interview.
"We shot it in Erykah's house. It was everything I thought it would have been when you're thinking about Erykah Badu."
Did sis just refer to Queen Badu on a first name basis? I stan.
Anyway, Carter, a Dallas transplant and college student at the University of North Carolina--Greensboro, has gone from taking pictures of fine art and all things black af, to literally shooting with some of the highest-profiled celebrities and publications in the world. It's mind-boggling and ultra-impressive how she has managed to pivot to her massive portfolio.
But how did Carter even get the opportunity to shoot for British Vogue? Well, luckily for her, she comes from a generation that believes in thinking big, shooting their shot, and putting themselves out there.
Beyoncé specifically requested a black woman for the shoot, and together with British Vogue's editor-in-chief, she found Kennedi, a young, ambitious, fine arts enthusiast who frequently gravitated toward "overlooked beauties of the Black experience." But it wasn't luck, sis was placing herself in rooms, manifesting the correct energies to be seen.
Another 20-something-year-old recently did the same when he promoted his work on Twitter, just for the one and only, Oprah Winfrey to notice. She went on to offer him a job at the relaunch of O Magazine, a monumental opportunity that would have never come his way had he not taken the time to believe in himself.
#beyourownbiggestfan
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Today, Kennedi is taking in the aftermath of her historic shoots, living her best creative life and representing herself for the next opportunity that arises. But for now, she says her focus is to 'create timeless work that "echo[es] the South'.
"Working from the South, there are so many people that feel like they have to move to get a good opportunity or to get put on the radar. There are stories down here that are worth hearing."
She continued:
"I want people to look back on [my work] in 20 or 30 years and feel like there's some type of accurate depiction of what the mid-2000s was like."
We can't wait to see her journey take flight from here!
Feature image via Kennedi Carter/Instagram
Charmin Michelle is a southern native and creative spirit who works as a content marketer and events manager in Chicago. She enjoys traveling, #SummertimeChi, and the journey of mastering womanhood. Connect with her on Instagram @charminmichelle.
ItGirl 100 Honors Black Women Who Create Culture & Put On For Their Cities
As they say, create the change you want to see in this world, besties. That’s why xoNecole linked up with Hyundai for the inaugural ItGirl 100 List, a celebration of 100 Genzennial women who aren’t afraid to pull up their own seats to the table. Across regions and industries, these women embody the essence of discovering self-value through purpose, honey! They're fierce, they’re ultra-creative, and we know they make their cities proud.
VIEW THE FULL ITGIRL 100 LIST HERE.
Don’t forget to also check out the ItGirl Directory, featuring 50 Black-woman-owned marketing and branding agencies, photographers and videographers, publicists, and more.
THE ITGIRL MEMO
I. An ItGirl puts on for her city and masters her self-worth through purpose.
II. An ItGirl celebrates all the things that make her unique.
III. An ItGirl empowers others to become the best versions of themselves.
IV. An ItGirl leads by example, inspiring others through her actions and integrity.
V. An ItGirl paves the way for authenticity and diversity in all aspects of life.
VI. An ItGirl uses the power of her voice to advocate for positive change in the world.
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Tyler James Williams Explains Why His And Quinta Brunson 'Abbott Elementary' Characters Should Remain Friends
While Abbott Elementary fans are hoping that Janine and Gregory end up together, the show’s star has another take. Tyler James Williams plays Gregory on the Emmy award-winning sitcom, and he recently stopped by The Jennifer Hudson Show to share his point of view on his storyline with Janine, which Quinta Brunson plays.
“I hate to say it. I know that everybody’s always mad at me for this. I don’t necessarily want to see them together,” he revealed. “It’s partially an actor’s choice, but also somebody who, like, I read a lot of scripts all the time. I watch a lot of TV, a lot of film. I don’t think that we see displays of platonic love between two people often. I think it’s really easy to go right to they have feelings for each other, therefore they should be together. I like this dynamic of exploring withholding that and just actively loving each other where they are. That I like to see more.”
If you recall, they were co-workers who became friends but were secretly crushing on each other. They’ve had many awkward run-ins during and after school, like the unforgettable club scene where they were dancing nervously with each other in season one, and in season two, they finally kiss. However, it only made things even more awkward, and they decided to just be friends. Tyler further explained why he thinks it’s important to showcase that type of relationship on screen.
“I think it’s time for that. I think TV allows people to see things that could be their lives for the first time, and I think seeing a healthy friendship that is deeply caring about one another in a work atmosphere needs to be shown more than the relationship,” he concluded.
Abbott Elementary comes on every Wednesday at 9 p.m. EST on ABC.
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Feature image by Kevin Mazur/Getty Images