Models of the Moment

The wait is finally over! It has been like the Olympics for model fans and fashion enthusiasts, as countless journalists and bloggers have created brackets and placed their bets on the possible cover girls, debating who would win the honor.

But at long last the anticipation is over, as the “Faces of the Moment” for the May 2009 cover of Vogue, shot by Steven Meisel are now official: Liya Kebede, Natalia Vodianova, Anna Jagodzinska, Isabeli Fontana, Lara Stone, Jourdan Dunn, Raquel Zimmermann, Caroline Trentini, and Natasha Poly.

But the model obsession doesn’t stop there. Inside are countless pages that include iconic faces, making this issue a must-have for collectors.

A roundtable discussion brings together Naomi Campbell, Hilary Rhoda, Lauren Hutton, Karlie Kloss, Caroline Trentini, and Paulina Porizkova;
Angela Lindvall poses for an article titled “Natural Selection”;
Lily Donaldson models Miguel Adrover’s new line;
Raquel Zimmermann is dressed up in navy fashions for “Blue State”;
Liya Kebede shoots with Steven Meisel with makeup artist Sam Fine for a piece about skin color;
Lakshmi Menon travels to India with stylist Edward Enninful and photographer Mikael Jansson;
Daria Werbowy poses for David Sims in “Quick Artist Change”;
Natalia Vodianova transforms herself into supers, including Dovima, Suzy Parker, and Jean Shrimpton for “The Great Pretender,” shot by Steven Meisel;
Gisele Bundchen, Naomi Campbell, and Karen Elson spill their workout secrets in “Kicking It,” shot by Norman Jean Roy;
Cohosts of the 2009 Costume Institute Gala Kate Moss, Justin Timberlake, and Marc Jacobs come together for “Inspiring Beauty,” shot by Annie Leibovitz;
The girls pose with their loves for Patrick Demarchelier in “Meet the Boyfriends”: Chanel Iman & Tyga, Doutzen Kroes & Greg Andrews, Caroline Trentini & Victor Demarchelier, Anna Jagodzinska & Duncan Winecoff, Arlenis Sosa & Rene Rodriguez, Julia Stegner & Steven Pan;
And finally, a huge Steven Meisel group spread titled “The Godfather,” featuring Caroline Murphy, Liya Kebede, Kristen M, Coco Rocha, Jessica Stam, Stella Tennant, Agyness Deyn, Guinevere Van Seenus, Natalia Vodianova, Amber Valleta, Linda Evangelista, Naomi Campbell, Karen Elson, Christy Turlington, Isabeli Fontana, Natasha Poly, Caroline Trentini, Lara Stone, Sasha Pivovarova, and Raquel Zimmermann. As well, there’s a huge article by Jonathan Van Meter honoring Steven Meisel, with models discussing memories of the master.