Today, ESSENCE reveals the “The Modern Muse” duo, Keke Palmer and Sergio Hudson, as the cover stars of ESSENCE Magazine’s September/October Black Fashion Issue. This duo redefines glamour in 2023 and amplifies the revolutionary act of dressing a Black woman. ESSENCE Magazine continues to highlight stories of Black women who spark important conversations and leave impactful trails. The 2023 ESSENCE Black Fashion Issue (September/October) will hit newsstands on August 28th.
PULLED QUOTES
Keke’s Quotes:
- “I think my breastfeeding journey was also very empowering, because it was so difficult. And I wanted to give up at so many different points, but I just kept pushing myself and kept trying to figure it out. So the relationship I had with my son during that process empowered me to get back up and do things for myself again.”
- “I’m gonna get out there and experience everything again, and I’m still gonna be there for my boy. That kind of resolve built so much confidence and so much strength in me. I just got this overwhelming sense that I can do anything.”
- “Sergio being beside me made the whole thing that much better, because he was acting like my mom, Sharon. He was like, ‘Get out there and talk to these people. You need to work the room. These people need to see how good you look.’ He was breathing so much life into me. It makes me feel a little bit emotional now, talking about it, because I honestly feel like he brought me back to the world, honey. He really did.”
Sergio Hudson’s Quotes:
- “Until now, the only muse I ever had a relationship with was my mom,” says Hudson. But when Keke and I first met, immediately there was this click. We were right there. She said she had this immediate trust in me, and all I really wanted was to make her look as beautiful as she is. She inspires me. Her talent is limitless.”
- “I think the designer-muse relationship is like give and take”
- “She pours into me, and then I pour into her and onto her. I see a vision of who she is and where she should be, style-wise.”
- “She’s brought new joy into what I do—because sometimes when you get into this business, you can lose your joy in what you’re doing.” I had found myself in that place right before the Met Gala. And
- “I feel like my relationship with Keke is a gift. It rejuvenated me. It was like, Okay, this is what you need to be doing. This is where you need to be going. Keke got me excited about fashion again.”
CREDITS
Photographed by Shaniqwa Jarvis
Styled by Corey Stokes
Keke Hair by Tamika Gibson using The Hair Diagram
Keke Makeup by Kenya Alexis using 111SKIN at Opus Beauty
Keke Nails by Rhayne Lodevico
Sergio Grooming by Ivan Castro using Le Métier De Beauté and MANTL
Set Design by Carlos Lopez at Winston Studios
Set Design Assistant: Julia Choi & Iman Jordan
Photo Assistants: Phil Sanchez, Scott Turner, and Patrick Molina
Digitech: Zach Callahan
Tailor: Shirlee Idzakovich
Hair Assistant: Keshaun Williams
Stylist Assistant: Kristtian Chevere and Victoria Jackson
Production Managers: Alaura Wong and Christina Najar
Production Assistants: Malek Mahones, Jai Wilson, and Sylvia Barjolo
Shot at Studios60
Post Production by picturehouse + thesmalldarkroom
Production by The Morrison Group
