Rihanna Stars on ELLE's September 2026 Cover

Rihanna Covers ELLE September 2026 Issue

Rihanna takes the spotlight for ELLE’s September 2026 issue, bringing together a high-profile creative team led by Nina Garcia, Inez & Vinoodh and Roxane Gay.

August 13, 2026: Rihanna is stepping into the September issue spotlight.

The singer, entrepreneur and fashion icon is featured for ELLE’s September 2026 issue, with the magazine revealing a major creative team behind the shoot. The issue brings together ELLE editor-in-chief Nina Garcia, photographers Inez & Vinoodh, stylist Jahleel Weaver and writer Roxane Gay.

The cover and editorial also bring together several major names from the beauty and fashion world, including Fenty Beauty, Fenty Skin, Dior and a team of acclaimed hair, makeup and nail artists.

HOLR breaks down the details behind Rihanna’s latest ELLE feature and the creative team responsible for bringing the September 2026 issue to life.

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Rihanna Takes Over the September Issue

Rihanna’s appearance in ELLE’s September issue continues her long-standing relationship with fashion and beauty culture.

The September issue is traditionally one of the most anticipated editions for major fashion publications, making Rihanna’s involvement another notable moment in her expanding fashion and beauty presence.

The issue was shared by both Rihanna and ELLE on Instagram, highlighting the creative team involved in the project.

Nina Garcia Leads the ELLE Issue

At the center of the issue is ELLE editor-in-chief Nina Garcia.

Garcia has been ELLE’s editor-in-chief since 2017 and is one of the most recognizable editorial figures in fashion media. Her involvement adds another layer of significance to Rihanna’s September cover.

The collaboration brings together two influential women from different sides of the fashion industry: Rihanna as a global entertainer, designer and entrepreneur, and Garcia as one of fashion publishing’s leading editorial voices.

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Inez & Vinoodh Photograph Rihanna

The September issue was photographed by the renowned photography duo Inez & Vinoodh.

The pair are known for their work across fashion, celebrity portraiture and editorial photography, having collaborated with some of the biggest names in entertainment and fashion throughout their careers.

For Rihanna’s ELLE feature, their photography provides the visual foundation for the issue.

Their involvement also reinforces the publication’s decision to treat the September issue as a major fashion moment rather than simply another celebrity feature.

Roxane Gay Writes the Feature

The issue also features writing by acclaimed author and cultural critic Roxane Gay.

Gay is known for her essays, criticism, fiction and cultural commentary, including books such as Bad Feminist and Hunger.

Her involvement gives the Rihanna feature a literary and cultural dimension, pairing the singer’s public image with a writer known for exploring identity, culture and contemporary life.

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Jahleel Weaver Styles Rihanna

Fashion stylist Jahleel Weaver is credited as the stylist for the shoot.

Weaver has worked extensively with Rihanna and is closely associated with the singer’s fashion evolution.

His styling has helped shape some of Rihanna’s most memorable recent fashion appearances, making his involvement in the ELLE shoot particularly fitting.

The collaboration also reflects the established creative relationship between Weaver and Rihanna.

A Major Beauty Team

The beauty team behind the shoot includes several recognizable names.

Jawara handled Rihanna’s hair, while Hector Espinal created the makeup look for Fenty Beauty. Kim Truong was responsible for the manicure.

The beauty credits also connect the shoot to brands associated with Rihanna, including Fenty Beauty and Fenty Skin.

That connection is particularly interesting because Rihanna has transformed herself into a major force in the beauty industry through her Fenty brands.

Fenty Beauty Remains Part of Rihanna’s Fashion World

Since launching Fenty Beauty in 2017, Rihanna has become one of the most influential celebrity entrepreneurs in beauty.

The brand gained attention for its inclusive approach to foundation shades and helped push the wider beauty industry toward greater representation.

Having Fenty Beauty and Fenty Skin represented in the credits for Rihanna’s ELLE shoot therefore feels like a natural extension of her personal brand.

Rather than simply being the face of a beauty campaign, Rihanna has built businesses within the industry.

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Dior Also Receives Special Thanks

Dior and Dior Beauty are among the names receiving special thanks for the issue.

Rihanna has maintained a significant presence within luxury fashion, and her relationship with major fashion houses has helped establish her as more than a musician on the red carpet.

Over the years, she has attended major fashion events, appeared in luxury campaigns and developed her own fashion ventures.

Her ability to move between music, beauty and luxury fashion has become one of the defining elements of her public image.

Why Rihanna Continues to Matter in Fashion

Rihanna’s influence goes beyond individual outfits.

She has become known for challenging traditional ideas about maternity fashion, red-carpet dressing and beauty standards. Her willingness to experiment has helped make her one of the most closely watched celebrities whenever she appears publicly.

Her fashion influence also extends into business.

Through Fenty, she has created brands that exist independently of her music career.

That combination makes a magazine feature like ELLE’s September issue particularly relevant.

Rihanna is not simply participating in fashion culture.

She is actively contributing to it.

A Carefully Curated Creative Collaboration

One of the most striking details about the ELLE September 2026 issue is the number of established creative professionals involved.

From Inez & Vinoodh behind the camera to Weaver’s styling, Gay’s writing and the beauty team led by Jawara, Hector Espinal and Kim Truong, the shoot represents a collaborative fashion editorial.

The production was handled by GS World Media and VLM Productions, with additional special thanks extended to several contributors.

That level of collaboration is typical of a major fashion editorial and demonstrates how much work goes into creating a high-profile magazine issue.

Rihanna’s Latest Fashion Chapter

Rihanna has spent more than a decade evolving from global pop star into one of the entertainment industry’s most influential business and fashion figures.

Her music career established her global profile.

Her fashion appearances expanded her cultural influence.

Fenty Beauty and her other business ventures transformed her relationship with the beauty industry.

Now, appearances such as ELLE’s September 2026 issue continue to reinforce that evolution.

The result is a Rihanna feature that sits comfortably at the intersection of music, fashion, beauty and culture.

HOLR breaks down Rihanna’s latest ELLE feature, and the September 2026 issue is another reminder of why she remains such a powerful figure across multiple industries.

From the photography and styling to the beauty team and editorial writing, the project brings together some of the industry’s most recognizable creative names.

For Rihanna, it is another fashion moment.

For ELLE, it is a September issue led by one of pop culture’s most influential figures.