Vibe Covers: Ciara v. Toni Braxton

Here is my random Saturday thought. For all you youngin’s Ciara was NOT the first woman to pose nude on the cover of Vibe. Flashback to 1997 and you have Toni Braxton appearing nude on the cover of Vibe Magazine. That issue raised a HUGE controversy back then and the same thing is going on now with Ciara who will appear nude on the cover of the October 2008 cover of Vibe Magazine.

Ciara’s spread includes a nude layout inside the magazine (with her essential Goodies strategically covered of course) to promote her new album ‘Fantasy Ride’ and discuss her ”relationship” with 50 Cent among other things.  Vibe even bumped Robin Thick from the cover after he stated Vibe refuses to put white artists on the cover of Vibe.  So, this proves sex sells hands down!  I used to have the Toni article but I can’t find it so I don’t have access to the photos or the content of the article.  You can barely even find it on the net.

Toni posed nude waaaaay before Maxim or King Magazine so when the cover appeared the Hip Hop world was shocked.  Now a days, folks just shake their heads and it hasn’t caused as much of a stir as Toni’s cover did. 

Many people thought Toni’s Cover was classy and edgy.  I think Ciara’s cover borders on tasteless, particularly the the inside article shots.    Who’s cover is better in your opinion.  If I had to chose, (which I don’t want to ), I say Toni.

I really think the covers may make us desensitized.  They contribute to the exploitation of women.  Who cares if you are slightly covered up.  But then again,  the covers are no more than they show in music videos and performances, right?

My question, readers, is this. Why are women posing nude on magazine covers? I am not talking about Playboy, Hustler or other XXX magazines. I am talking about every day magazines.What does it say about the women who pose? Do you lose respect for them after seeing them on the cover? Do you lose respect for Vibe?

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