Stephen Graham’s recent GQ interview is a masterclass in how to craft celebrity profiles that feel timely, meaningful, and genuinely human. It is the kind of feature that reminds readers why thoughtful editorial work still matters. In contrast, Vogue continues to fall into a frustrating pattern, relying on the same familiar faces and surface-level narratives, offering little in the way of fresh insight or emotional depth. These cover stars are not necessarily irrelevant, but the magazine’s approach to storytelling has grown repetitive, uninspired, and increasingly forgettable. (GQ June 2025 Shoot, Stephen Graham, Photography by Ben Parks)
How many more times can we see Billie Eilish or the Kardashians on the cover of Vogue before it starts to feel like déjà vu? No matter how beautifully styled the shoot, repetition without reinvention becomes dull, and it signals a lack of editorial risk-taking.
Consider Vogue’s May issue, which features Hailey Bieber on the cover. At first glance, it appears to be yet another standard celebrity fashion spread. However, in light of the recent announcement that her skincare brand is now valued at over $1 billion, her presence begins to make more sense. It is a significant business achievement, and one that could have led to a nuanced editorial about building a brand, navigating fame, and evolving in the face of public criticism. Instead, readers are given soft-focus lifestyle details, including an oddly highlighted mention of her breakfast order – scrambled eggs and a cinnamon roll (just in case anyone wanted to know) – as if that somehow unlocks the secrets of her success.
To be fair, Hailey Bieber has faced an outsized amount of scrutiny. In many ways, she has earned her place in the industry by moving beyond the “nepo baby” narrative and proving herself as a serious entrepreneur. The issue lies not with her, but with Vogue’s persistent failure to go deeper. Too often, the profiles are beautifully styled but emotionally hollow, more concerned with preserving image than uncovering truth which leaves little space for vulnerability, honesty, or real connection.
(Vogue May 2025 Cover, Hailey Beiber Photography by Mikael Jansson)
This is exactly where GQ sets itself apart. In a media environment dominated by tight lead times and pre-planned editorial calendars, the magazine still manages to feel current and curious. The Stephen Graham feature exemplifies this perfectly. It is not just visually strong, though the photography is impressive, especially given that Graham is far from a conventional fashion model, but it is emotionally rich and socially relevant. The piece touches on his latest project, Adolescence, but also explores his working-class background, the prejudice he has faced in the industry, and a moment when he nearly left acting entirely to become a social worker in Liverpool. These are the kinds of revelations that give a profile weight and purpose – they invite the reader into something real.
By comparison, Bieber’s interview had the potential to dive into similarly powerful territory. It could have explored the complexities of motherhood, the emotional realities of postnatal life, or the tension between personal identity and public image. Instead, it barely scratches the surface. When the most intimate detail is a comment about hiring a team of experts to help lose the last pounds of baby weight, the piece begins to feel less like journalism and more like brand maintenance.
It is worth noting that not everything in Graham’s interview is immediately relatable either. His daily cold plunges and heat therapy sessions may seem far removed from everyday life. However, GQ uses those moments as a gateway into deeper reflections on fatherhood, mental health, and what it means to show up for the people you love. There is something profoundly human in his reflections on spending time with his children, even if it is simply kicking a football around in the garden. It is these honest, grounded details that give the feature its emotional texture.
Ultimately, this is not just a matter of aesthetic preference or which celebrity gets the most engagement. It is about the kind of editorial choices that shape cultural conversations. GQ has chosen to lead—to elevate stories that are timely, textured, and emotionally resonant. British Vogue, for all its visual polish and influence, continues to rely on stories that feel safe, familiar, and increasingly inconsequential.
If print media is to have a lasting future, it must offer more than a beautifully lit portrait and a list of brand partners. It must offer readers something to think about—something to connect with. And most importantly, something worth turning the page for.
BEYOND THE WORD 