Amid controversy over hiring a white fashion director, Essence has put three black supermodels on its 40th anniversary cover. Critics like Michaele angela Davis said the appointment of Elliana Placas to the fashion director post "hurt, literally, spiritually," while Najwa Moses asked, "How could such a prestigious title who is deeply rooted in its target audience let someone who is not even apart of the African Diaspora detonate our image? How can a White woman dictate and decide what style and beauty is for the Black woman?"

In any case, the September issue features Iman, Naomi Campbell and Liya Kebede, representatives of the mag's 40 Fierce & Fabulous Women. Check out the cover.

I did not think it was possible, that a rapper could capture the energy and exuberance that Ethiopians feel when listening to Ethiopian music and capture it through Hip Hop. Sure, Ethiopians love Hip Hop like any other community does—after all, Hip Hop has become universal. But the truth is that Hip Hop is loved by younger Ethiopians, the older generation, for the most part, is not too keen to Hip Hop. Ethiopians that are in their 40s or older mostly listen to Ethiopian music, even modern day Ethiopian musicians who deviate from the norm are not too adored by the older generation.

I remember once seeing a youtube clip of Ellias Fullmore—the first Ethiopian rapper that I knew of—back around 2002 at an Ethiopian event. He grabbed the mic and was lacing the place with some fierce hip hop lyrics, and the audience of Ethiopians was almost oblivious to Ellias’s performance. Most were carrying on small talk amongst themselves, the rest were curious on lookers who were mostly listening out of sheer oddity then they were out of fascination. I remember thinking at the time I saw the youtube clip that Ethiopians—as a whole—would not adapt to Ethiopian Hip Hop. I think we are a community driven on conservation, where we hold on to the “traditional” aspects of our culture and abhor something new until that something new becomes a part of our tradition. Mahmoud and Tilahun are cornerstones of our musical culture now, but when they first introduced a new form of Ethiopian music influenced by Jazz, they too were seen as social pariahs until they—and their new style of Ethiopian music—was embraced by the masses.

Model and goodwill ambassador for the World Health Organization Liya Kebede is pictured here showing off some fancy eco, fair trade and vegan fashion! The dress is Kebede’s own design and handmade by local women in her native country of Ethiopia. The shoes, of course, are from Olsen Haus — one of our very, very favorite green and cruelty-free lines. A big ‘Yay’ to Vogue for highlighting fashion with a conscious!

Liya Kebede recently named the 32-year-old Ethiopian supermodel Liya Kebede one of the top 100 most influential people in the world for 2010. The list includes US President Barack Obama, Bill Clinton, African football superstar Didier Drogba, Oprah Winfrey, and Apple CEO Steve Jobs among others.