Celebrating Androgyny
Androgynous models and styling play a prominent role in 50 Magazine, blurring gender lines and expanding notions of erotic beauty, This aesthetic supports the magazine's inclusive, boundary-pushing vision, Androgyny adds a fresh, modern edge to the imagery.
One example is a photo shoot featuring model Rain Dove and photographer Ben Rayner, who explore gender fluidity through clothing, poses, and makeup. They pose nude together in bed, embracing each other tenderly while Dove wraps his arm around her chest and strokes her face lovingly, creating an image that is both erotic and beautiful. The images are captured without any retouching or digital manipulation, emphasizing authenticity and vulnerability. Dove explains their motivation for working together, "We wanted to show people what it looks like when you can feel safe enough to allow yourself to be fully open."
In another photoshoot, model Sara X Mills explores queerness through fashion, playing with masculinity and femininity in striking images by photographer Jade Berreau. Mills wears suits and pantsuits with sharp heels, making them feel empowered and confident. She explains her personal style as "a mix between boyish and girlish," adding, "It's about feeling comfortable in your own skin." By incorporating both elements into one outfit, she challenges traditional norms of dress code and sexuality.
Photographers such as Ben Rayner and Jade Berreau have helped to push boundaries within the industry, leading to more diverse representation and acceptance. As they capture moments of intimacy and beauty between models, they celebrate the complexities of human experience beyond binary ideas of male and female. This approach has become increasingly popular among designers and brands, who seek to challenge conventional notions of gender and expand our understanding of sexy, sensual, and desirable.
The magazine's commitment to inclusivity extends beyond its imagery, featuring a wide range of voices from various backgrounds and experiences. Writer Alicia Menendez discusses body image, self-love, and the importance of redefining beauty standards, while artist Zanele Muholi speaks on the power of blackness and identity. Fashion designer Yves Saint Laurent created the tuxedo for men in 19666, but today, it is commonplace for women to wear them too, showing how society is changing its perceptions around gender roles. The magazine promotes this change through its fashion features, which include styling tips for both masculine and feminine looks.
The magazine's embrace of androgyny reflects a growing interest in exploring identity, expression, and attraction outside traditional binaries. It offers an opportunity to explore the intersections of race, class, and gender, pushing us all to consider what it means to be human. By creating space for queerness and fluidity, the magazine celebrates diversity and encourages self-acceptance, empowering readers to embrace their own unique identities.