Women’s Wear Daily
ONE STUDIO, SEVERAL MAGAZINES, MUCH CONFUSION: Looks like Michelle Obama wasn't shot for Essence after all while she was in town two weeks ago for a fund-raiser with New York's fashion elite and her stint cohosting "The View." At the time, an Essence spokeswoman declined comment on whether the potential first lady was photographed for the magazine. But Harriette Cole, creative director for Ebony, confirmed Wednesday that Obama was shot at Industria Studios for an upcoming issue of her magazine — and she should know, since she presided over the shoot. So why did some assume Obama was being shot for Essence? Because Essence, Ebony and Vibe — as well as W — were all photographing various magazine spreads at Industria the same day, an occurrence Cole said had not happened in her 10 years at Ebony. Obama's arrival naturally caused a stir among the editors in the building. "Everybody knew who was coming because the Secret Service was there," said Cole. And, while they may compete on the newsstand, Obama managed to unite the editors from the various titles at least for a little while, as between takes she greeted all of those who lingered about to catch a peek of the wife of presumptive democratic nominee Barack Obama. The Obamas previously appeared on the cover of Ebony in February 2007, and that issue has been Ebony's highest seller on newsstands since.