To say we’ve had a love/hate relationship with Samira Nasr’s Harper’s Bazaar would be an understatement—an understatement of somewhat epic proportions. Nevertheless, since succeeding the long-serving Glenda Bailey as EIC, Nasr has featured a wealth of talent as cover stars. Throughout 2025, names like Mona Tougaard, Dua Lipa, Jenna Ortega, Linda Evangelista, and Zoe Saldaña have fronted the Hearst-owned fashion title. The latest to become a Harper’s Bazaar cover girl is Cynthia Erivo, who fronts the November issue of the magazine. The British talent poses for the photographer Cass Bird, with Yashua Simmons reporting for styling duties. In the cover shot, Erivo works a black velvet gown from the Fall 2025 Giorgio Armani Privé collection.
Cynthia Erivo for Harper’s Bazaar November 2025
Read below the reactions of theFashionSpot’s forum members:
“Cass Bird makes everyone look worse than they normally do. I don’t get why the cover cuts off at the legs where it does. I don’t get the cold-feeling colour grading either,” voiced VetOfOldNavy.
“What a total non-event of a cover shoot. The cover itself is cold, sterile, and completely lifeless. As to be expected, the photography from Cass Bird is amateur beyond belief. The ‘performance’ issue has a distinct lack of performance. Ugh!” commented vogue28.
“I do not know what to write. The cover is very basic,” chimed in an underwhelmed MModa.
Yet not everyone was so disappointed. “I’m pleasantly surprised how much I really like this,” reasoned forum member VanillaCrush.
“Yashua Simmons did his thing. Great cover,” approved jeremydante.
See more of Cynthia Erivo from the Harper’s Bazaar November 2025 cover shoot and click here to join the conversation.
