Meghan Markle: Jameela Jamil, Laverne Cox and Gemma Chan react to British Vogue cover

‘I am completely overwhelmed and overjoyed to share this cover,’ states Orange Is The New Black star Laverne Cox

Stars including actor Laverne Cox, boxer Ramla Ali and actor Gemma Chan have reacted to being featured on the cover of British Vogue’s September issue, guest edited by the Duchess of Sussex.

On Sunday 28 July, the cover of British Vogue’s “Forces for Change” September issue was revealed, as was the duchess’ involvement as guest editor alongside editor-in-chief Edward Enninful.

The issue features 15 women on the cover, hailing from the worlds of politics, sports and the arts.

The duchess told Enninful that she wanted to “focus on the women she admires”, all of whom are regarded by British Vogue as being “brilliant female changemakers”.

Several of the women expressed their gratitude at being featured on the cover of the magazine following its online reveal.

“I am completely overwhelmed and overjoyed to share this cover. Being on the cover of Vogue magazine has been a dream of mine since I was a child,” Orange Is The New Black star Cox wrote on Instagram.

“That it’s @britishvogue is even more special to me because British Vogue was the first to feature a black model on its cover, Donyale Luna, in May 1966.”

Actor and I Weigh movement founder Jameela Jamil tweeted that she is “awe/star struck” to be included on the cover of the magazine with a “bunch of absolute game changers”.

“And then the mic drop of all guest editors, HRH Duchess of Sussex, Tahani’s ‘good friend’ chose each of us!” Jamil added, in reference to her character Tahani from comedy television series The Good Place.

Boxer Ramla Ali spoke about the significance of being featured on the cover and using one’s platform to inspire others.

“Boxing is a selfish sport by its nature but more important than your own personal goals is what you can do for others, whether through raising awareness of important issues or through inspiration,” Ali wrote on Instagram.

The athlete concluded her caption by thanking the duchess and Enninful for “making a lifelong dream come true”.

Diversity advocate and lecturer Sinéad Burke explained on Twitter that she has been “collecting the September issue of Vogue“ throughout her life.

“They were my gateway to a world that I couldn’t visualise myself within,” Burke stated.

“Those September issues still line my bookcases at home and now, I’ll get to add one more to that collection! Bananas.”

Model Adwoa Aboah wrote on Instagram that being included in British Vogue‘s roster of female changemakers for its “Forces for Change” issue feels like “one of the biggest achievements yet”, having founded online community gurls talk.

“Thank you to everyone who made it a possibility,” Aboah added.

Peter Lindbergh, the photographer who captured the 15 women for the cover of British Vogue, explained to the magazine that he wanted to ensure the pictures appeared “natural”.

“The number of beautiful women who have asked me to lengthen their legs or move their eyes further apart… you would not believe. It’s a culture of madness,” the photographer said.

The full feature in the September issue of British Vogue will be available on newsstands and via digital download on Friday 2 August.