The Icons Issue: Welcome To The Multiverse
Multitalented. Multifaceted. Multitudinal. This year’s crop of ICONS reflects the great dynamism and diversity of a new generation of culture-shifters
The word ‘icon’ can evoke singularity, a distinct one-of-oneness grounded in who someone is, what that person represents, and the scale of that individual’s accomplishments. But while achievements can be singular, people contain multitudes. They embody a vast array of ambitions and experiences.
Take the people in our Icons portfolio.
Two-time Olympic-champion snowboarder Chloe Kim has redefined what athletic heroism looks like, speaking openly about her mental health and creating space for others to do the same. A prolific behind-the-scenes hitmaker, Benny Blanco has now found his own place in the spotlight, releasing an intimate and infectious collaborative album, I Said I Love You First, earlier this year with his fiancée, Selena Gomez. Stranger Things star Sadie Sink has paved the way for an even brighter future with her Tony-nominated (and fiercely intelligent) performance on Broadway in the politically charged play John Proctor Is the Villain.
Artist Chase Hall uses highly symbolic materials like coffee and cotton to create textured works that reckon with history, marginalization, and his own experience growing up biracial in America. Ravyn Lenae’s lush, futuristic brand of R&B mines the time-worn subject of love with stirring soulfulness. Comedian Megan Stalter brings a joyful chaos — and rich emotional depth — to Lena Dunham’s new Netflix series Too Much.
What unites them all is not just talent but a refusal to be limited by or reduced to any one identity, medium, or narrative. Their power is in their presence; they bring the entirety of who they are to the way they approach their work, use their platforms, and live their lives. They are the creators of new archetypes, new languages, and new paths forward — and they’re inviting us all along for the ride.
Chloe Kim, Snowboarder
“In the beginning, success was winning gold medals. Now it means being able to create whatever life I want for myself.”
Sadie Sink, Actor
“Whether the end result is good or bad or neutral, it doesn’t matter because whatever I do as an actor, I am still learning.”
Benny Blanco, Producer & Songwriter
“I’ve just always been drawn to have fun and make stuff that feels good, and if it winds up being something that other people like, then that’s cool.”
Chase Hall, Artist
“I’ve always been a new kid at school. I’ve always lived in new places. … I think from a young age, visualising the world provided a sense of safety.”
Ravyn Lenae, Singer & Songwriter
“I’m really interested in challenging my own idea of what R&B can be or what music in general can really feel like. ”
Megan Stalter, Actor & Comedian
“It doesn’t matter what something will look like if it felt the way it’s supposed to… if it feels real to me, I think it feels fulfilling.”
Photography: Philip-Daniel Ducasse. Styling: Gabriella Karefa-Johnson. Hair for Lenae and Stalter: Evanie Frausto for Redken. Hair for All Others: Edward Lampley for Bumble and Bumble. Makeup: Kennedy for Dior Beauty. Manicures for Lenae and Stalter: Marisa Carmichael for Essie. Manicures for All Others: Mayumi Abuku for Chanel. Grooming for Blanco: Christine Nelli for Bumble and Bumble. Casting: Anita Bitton at the Establishment. Production: Day Int. Set Design: Bette Adams.