Music icon Janet Jackson takes the cover story of Essence Magazine‘s July August 2022 edition lensed by fashion photographer Yu Tsai. In charge of styling was Georgia Medley at The Only Agency, with prop styling from Jemima Hetherington. Beauty is work of hair stylist Larry Sims at Forward Artists for Flawless, and makeup artist Preston Meneses.
I’ve never been that person to have my awards on display. There’s nothing wrong with it, that’s just not me. Being able to wake up and see my baby another day. The space I might be in at that moment within my soul. What I’ve accomplished within myself. How far I’ve come from that child there to the woman that I am today. That’s success. If you came to my home, you would never know—if you did not know who I was—that I am an entertainer. I don’t have one award on my wall.
It’s so funny because I see the fans asking, “When are we going to get Black Diamond?” “Will you please release?” Sometimes things happen that you don’t expect to happen, and you have to figure things out—or you’re in a space in your life when you have to take a step back and take a break for a minute. Even though it’s something that I absolutely love, it still is my work, my job. There will be music at some point. Exactly when? I can’t say just yet, but there will be. I love it too much not to do it. This is all I know. There’s so much that I want to do—but my number one job is being a mama. – Janet Jackson
Photography © Yu Tsai for ESSENCE Magazine, discover more at essence.com
