Vogue Philippines excites a glamour-obsessed nation, but is print journalism still in fashion?

News of the beauty bible’s latest edition has fans swamping Twitter with mocked up covers featuring Filipino celebrities like Catriona Gray and Nadine Lustre

But in a declining industry, success won’t be easy. Well-wishers say given race-related controversies in Vogue’s past, its new venture must embrace diversity

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Fans’ impressions of how Vogue Philippines might look. Photo: Twitter

Published: 11:00am, 16 Jan 2022

News that fashion magazine Vogue is to launch a print edition in the Philippines has created a buzz in a nation that prides itself on its love of celebrity culture, glamour, and beauty.

Conde Nast’s confirmation this week that it would follow-up the soft-launch of its Philippine website with a monthly printed edition of glossy fashion and lifestyle spreads in September 2022 has seen fans swamping the internet with mocked up versions of what it might look like. Among the most widely shared versions are fan-made covers featuring the Filipino beauty queens Pia Wurtzbach and Catriona Gray and the television and movie actresses Nadine Lustre and Kathryn Bernardo.

In launching what will be the luxury magazine’s 29th international edition, the company hopes to tap the Philippines’ “growing luxury fashion market and vibrant creative scene”, according to managing director for global brand licensing Mark Grindel.

And if the reaction to the mocked up covers trending on Twitter are anything to go by, the company is on to a winner.

As someone who grew up reading various international editions of Vogue, and later working as photographer documenting Philippine beauty pageants, Tammy David is among the many eagerly awaiting its launch.

She says the buzz around the magazine is because her nation is obsessed with glamour, fame and beauty.