The issue has already been written about by Cathryn Horyn for The New York Times with interviews featuring photographer Steven Meisel, and Franca Sozzani, Editor-In-Chief of Italian Vogue. Asked about the inspiration for such an unprecedented issue, Sozzani says that she was moved as much by seeing black girls on the streets of New York as by Barack Obama’s stunning rise and visibility. Needless to say fashion media and blogs are headed toward a fever pitched frenzy over the whole thing.

With the issue already sold out around the country and with newsstands and magazine retailers barely able to keep up (not to mention some waiting lists of up to 400 people), you’ll be lucky to get your hands on one. If you are one of the fortunate (or being the fashionista you are you have a subscription to Italian Vogue so you don’t need to join the ranks of us that need to madly scramble to get a copy), let’s hope it’s a memento of the genesis of a new era in the beauty & fashion industries that is inclusive of all races.

Photo credit: Tyra Banks photographed by Steven Meisel, for Italian Vogue

For more articles:

• The New York Times: http://runway.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/06/18/beauty-and-soul/
• MSNBC: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/25570118/