Pictures of Beyonce Knowles's African-Inspired L'Officiel Issue

Beyoncé Knowles Ruffles Feathers With Her African-Inspired L'Officiel Cover

February 23, 2011

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Beyoncé Knowles donned a gold Gucci number for the March cover of France's L'Officiel, which was a special issue honoring the magazine's 90th year in print. To mark the occasion, Beyonce posed for an Africa- and Fela Kuti-themed spread. It wasn't the clothes that has ruffled the feathers of some fans, though, but rather the artistic decision to change the color of Beyoncé's skin with makeup. The publisher's statement accompanying the issue read, "Far from the glamorous Sasha Fierce, the beauty posed for the magazine with amazing fashion designers' clothes, but also in a dress created by her mother. . . a return to her African roots, as you can see on the picture, on which her face was voluntarily darkened." It's a rare moment of controversy for the star, who has been busy lately catching up with her girlfriends and spending time with her husband Jay-Z.

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by Allie Merriam 21

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21 Comments

2 years

'am a black girl but this is not a black or white issue. i think at least we should commend 'Be' for drawing our attention to the African culture once again . we see different people with different cultural dresses almost looking the same but painting herself black really differentiate what she is portraying which is the African culture

curLRocker 2 years

"what's offensive is that she's always trying to look non-black" -- EXACTLY!! i'm not black, but i'd be generally offended by this woman if i was!

2 years

Some people always want to complain about something and racism is just the easiest way. Black Americans have a huge chip on their shoulder when it comes to their skin color and they are rewarded each time for creating controversy over it. Bey's photo makes it very clear in what she wanted to portray, it was a genuine show for a exotic beauty and anyone that says it's racist is racist themselves.

nguidjol 2 years

Well I'm black and I think its incredibly offensive. My skin tone is not a fad or a fashion statement. I also think its odd that the magazine would say that the looks are "far from the glamorous Sasha Fierce." The idea that a light skinned black woman needs to darken her skin to look more "African" shows an ignorance to the varieties of skin tones that exist in Africa. The whole thing is just odd and really idiotic. THANK YOU! And maybe that editor thinks Africa is a country like those ignorants always do.

azulsky 2 years

Yes they did it in Top Model and Tyra had to and did apologize for being insensitive and the majority of black people do embrace our African ancestry, note we don't lighten our skin or dye our hair Blond like Beyonce. Maybe the editors of this magazine and other mags should take Essence's and Italian Vogue's example and explore our beauty with people who are actually the skin tone they are trying to create. Instead of using black face, I don't know, maybe hire an actual black person with that complexion. Maybe they should stop doing pictorials with us in jungle themes and bone accessories. And if you do not know why it's offense please research black face, Fela Kuti (the man they were suppose to be honoring) and Africans throughout the African diaspora (all Africans are not dark skin).

2 years

I don't get why it's not offensive when she bleeches her hair blonde and wear colored contacts on shoots, photoshop her skin to look lighter but when she darkens her skin it's all of a sudden stupid and offensive, The question is why do people consider it offensive to darken skin? It's supposed to be artistic so what is the big deal. They did this in top model, taking asian models to look white, white models to look black, it's nothing shameful or offensive. It's exploring different types of beauty. Black people should stop being defensive and embrace their origin like Be. She's a good role model.

2 years

what's offensive is that she's always trying to look non-black

azulsky 2 years

This is offensive (and I am Black). I don't know how the editors or Beyonce thought this would go over well. Blackface is simply offensive, Tyra had to apologize for doing it on her show and Beyonce is no exception. Not to mention the animal prints and bone-like accessories, Seriously Bey, seriously, no thought of maybe I should rethink this set-up. Also the editors couldn't find one black model, actress, singer with that skin-tone to be in those shots, they could have used her bandmates Kelly or Michelle. It's just tacky and tactless.

Kitty Collins 2 years

^^ Agreed!

allthingspop 2 years

Just because something doesn't offend you, doesn't mean it's not offensive. I'm offended because it's pointless and it's been done over and over again and it is always pointless.

Frida83 2 years

Ehh? Ok, I'm not black but I don't see how this could be offensive? Is there something wrong with black skin? No. Do they make it seem like there's something wrong with black skin? No. I don't get the controversy. Granted I don't know the 'history' or what 'black face' is supposed to be, but don't they do this all the time in magazines and fashion spreads, change skin tones and play with ethnicity. Is there something wrong with Africa being associated with black skin anyway and if so why? I'm from Sweden and we're always made out to be all fair and blonde. Is it true? No. Does it offend me? Not really.

2 years

Instead of these hideous things, why didn't they dress her in clothes that are actually from Africa?

Kitty Collins 2 years

Beyonce doesn't surprise me, she does what the money dictates she must do. The L'Oreal skin whitening fiasco, pimping hair dye while wearing a weave, expressing her wish that she had been born latino, shucking and jiving at the White House with George Bush etc... She will show up anywhere, do anything to cash checks, the funny thing is that she's so blatant about it. She's in a hair color commercial wearing a weave! I just can't with her.

2 years

@allthingspop, Perhaps I should have stated in my original post that I am an AFRICAN who did not find this photoshoot to be offensive. When I look at the photos, I do not associate wild cheetah print with savages or jungle. As a matter of fact, most of the Africans I know do not either. I’ve had African garments sown with this material and so have many of my family members. The head pieces (which are not included in this post) are to die for!! I know there are many different skin tones in Africa, but what is so offensive about associating dark skin with Africans? I’m a dark skin African and I’m sorry, but that offends me. It’s almost as if people (not speaking entirely to you here) are implying that being dark skin is wrong or an insult. It’s so sad to me that things that I see as beautiful in my culture have been given such negative connotations in other parts of the world. I guess we’ll just have to agree to disagree

2 years

I'm not and I don't see how its offensive (but understandably so). Stars/models dress up and have their makeup done to imitate people or portray a different culture all the time in magazine spreads.

allthingspop 2 years

@ Anonymous Um, I am Black also. And the sheer pointlessness of it offends me, so it's a draw between you and me. Wear wild cheetah print, think jungle, think savages, oh oh oh, think dark skin. So fashionable.

2 years

Um, I'm Black and I did not find this offensive. This is not the orignal representation of black face did not even come close to anything like it. I happen to think she looks beautiful and the dark make up adds to the pics.

2 years

I'm black and this did NOT offend me. Also, it's not representative of black face in it's original form. I happen to think she looks quite beautiful and the dark make-up adds to the pics.

2 years

agreed.

allthingspop 2 years

What a fool. How many times do people have to say, black face is not cool, even if you're black.