Study analyses average face of Vogue cover models from around the world

The average faces of Vogue cover models from around the world look strikingly similar

Faces of Fashion (MyVoucherCodes)

A study analysing the average face of Vogue cover stars from around the world has displayed the significant lack of diversity of the magazine over the last quarter of a century.

Vogue has been making headlines on the global stage in recent months, featuring a hijab-wearing model on the cover of British Vogue for the first time and sparking controversy in Saudi Arabia with its “trailblazing women” issue.

An illuminating study has taken a look back at Vogue magazines from across the globe over the past 25 years in order to ascertain the average facial features of its cover models.

Content marketing company NeoMam collaborated with data and technology specialist Giuseppe Sollazzo, who was able to extract the facial features of numerous Vogue cover models using a technique called ‘Delaunay Triangulation’.

The study, which was commissioned by MyVoucherCodes, has unveiled the average face of a model to grace the cover of the magazine over the past 25 years, in addition to the average facial features of Vogue cover models in the US, Russia, France, Japan, Brazil, the UK and Italy.

When looking at all eight of the images, it’s apparent that the majority of the individuals to grace the covers have been white, despite the magazine’s recent efforts to promote diversity and progression.

MyVoucherCodes explains that it chose to use Vogue as the basis for the study due to its esteemed reputation as one of the most “prestigious fashion publications” in the world.

“We began this project by sourcing the names and images of every female cover model for these seven editions of Vogue over the past 25 years,” the company states.

“The exceptions are the Russia and Japan editions, which were launched in 1998 and 1999, respectively, and Vogue Brasil, for which we were unable to source every single cover prior to 2000.”

The researchers compiled a list of the cover models using a variety of sources, including the Fashion Model Directory, the Fashion Spot and Wikipedia.

They then placed markers on 68 areas of the face, before using the ‘Delaunay Triangulation’ method to extract the facial features.

The ‘Delaunay Triangulation’ involves splitting an image into triangles, before using an algorithm to morph various images together.

Last month, it was revealed that Beyoncé would be taking control of Vogue’s revered September issue by choosing her own photographer and being in charge of all captions to accompany photos of the singer in the magazine.

The superstar chose to hire 23-year-old photographer Tyler Mitchell, who became the first black photographer to shoot the cover in the magazine’s 126-year history.