«Iconic!»
106-year-old becomes the oldest “Vogue” cover star of all time
Apo Whang-Od graces the new cover of Vogue Philippines. The indigenous Filipina has been tattooing for 80 years – now she is being celebrated on the internet.
published
The 106-year-old Apo Whang-Od adorns the new cover of “Vogue Philippines” – and is celebrated for it.
Vogue
A 106-year-old indigenous Filipina named Apo Whang-Od is making history: she graces the cover of the April issue of Vogue Philippines, making her the oldest person to ever walk the Cover of a «Vogue» magazine was to see.
Apo Whang-Od is one of the last tattoo artists to practice Batok, one traditional art of tattooing with a hand needle and ink. Originally from the village of Buscalan in the province of Kalinga in the Philippines, she has been a tattoo artist for over 80 years.
Speaks little English
Despite speaking little English due to her advanced age and isolated lifestyle, Apo Whang-Od has managed to garner a worldwide following. She is known for her intricate and detailed tattoos, which often feature motifs such as scorpions, spiders, and snakes.
On the cover of Vogue Philippines, Apo Whang-Od can be seen in traditional attire surrounded by bamboo poles and leaves. The cover photo was taken by Mark Nicdao, a well-known Filipino photographer who has worked with the likes of Lady Gaga and Katy Perry.
Even Naomi Campbell is a fan
The decision to put Apo Whang-Od on the cover is being hailed online as a significant step towards inclusion and diversity. Both indigenous people and older people are severely underrepresented in the fashion industry. The fact that a 106-year-old indigenous woman has appeared on a Vogue cover has been taken on social media as a mark of recognition and appreciation for traditional Filipino arts and culture.
The comments on the issue are exclusively positive, some are almost euphoric: “Iconic!” and “More of it” is what it says on Instagram. Even supermodels like Naomi Campbell and Winnie Harlow are fans of the cover and commented with heart emojis under the “Vogue” post. A user writes: “This cover is more exciting than the last 100 issues of US ‘Vogue’ that have been published so far.”
How do you like the cover of the new «Vogue»? Would you like it if more older people were featured in fashion magazines?