Celebrities out, real women in

A UK glossy magazine is to shun models, celebrities and the airbrush for an issue in what it claims is a first for the industry.

Essentials magazine will feature 10 “real women” on the cover of its October issue.

The issue will launch a rule that no models or celebrities will appear on the cover from then onwards.

The rest of the October issue will also be model, celebrity and airbrush-free, from the fashion and beauty spreads to a naked body confidence photoshoot in the health section.

Editor Jules Barton-Breck said the decision was made in response to readers’ wishes.

She said: “So many of these women look, and are, amazing that we wanted to celebrate them. In our recent reader survey, 70 per cent told us that they would rather see a real woman on the cover of a magazine than a celebrity, so we’re excited to be the first magazine in the UK to do this every month.”

The magazine said hundreds of women applied for a place on the cover.

Publisher Ilka Schmitt said: “Celebrating our readers by putting them on the cover is a brave move, but it just feels right for Essentials.”

A series of ads to support the October issue will appear across other magazines including Marie Claire, Ideal Home and Woman, as well as online.