Is Maxim Magazine Overdue in Naming a Black Woman as its First “Sexiest Woman Alive”?

Maxim magazine has named 20 women its “Sexy Woman Alive” since 2000 with a non-diverse group of women until June of 2021, when Teyana Taylor graced the cover and claimed the title of being named its “Sexiest Woman Alive.” Maxim magazine is absolutely overdue in naming a black woman as its first “Sexiest Woman Alive.” It’s the year 2021 and our eyes have been opened to racial inequality even more than before along with the importance of representation and inclusion of people of color. Maxim magazine is just discovering that black women are sexy and worthy of earning the title of “Sexiest Woman Alive.”

Of course, Taylor is worthy of being 2021’s “Sexiest Woman Alive.” She is a singer, songwriter, actress, dancer, choreographer, director, model, wife, and mother. At the 2016 MTV Movie Awards, Kanye West debuted his new music video Fade, which starred Taylor. Kanye West was not present in the video, just Taylor and her jaw dropping choreography, in addition to her sculpted abs and sculpted post baby body (believe it or not). The video blew up social media and everyone (who didn’t already know) wanted to know who Taylor was. I can’t believe she was passed up on being crowned the “Sexiest Woman Alive” that year or the year after, but six years later. Better late than never?

Every year since 2000, (except 2020 due to the pandemic) Maxim has released its annual Hot 100 issue featuring celebrity women who are named the “Sexiest Woman Alive.” Winners range from actress Olivia Wilde to singer Katy Perry, and model Hailey Baldwin. Although no black women have made it to number 1 until this year, celebrities such as Beyonce and Rihanna have made it to the top 100 list.

“What many in the entertainment industry are ready to say aloud is this: The institution itself is imbued with white supremacy and a patriarchal structure designed to proffer advantages unequally. Now the question is whether Hollywood, a town built on the very premise of exclusivity and gatekeeping, can make good on its commitment to inclusion — and amplify the voices of Black talent and other creatives of color the way it has purported to” according to Variety.com

Representation in Hollywood has come a long way, however, there is still more work to be done. According to the study #RepresentationMatters, two in three Black Americans don’t feel they see their stories represented on-screen. Although this isn’t directly related to a magazine cover, it is still under the same umbrella. If every woman that has graced the covered as the sexiest woman alive is white, does that mean that Black women are forgotten or not considered the typical standard of beauty? I now question the genuineness and motive of making Taylor the sexiest woman alive. Is it because they were afraid of soon being called out for not being inclusive or was it intentional to boost sales since it is groundbreaking history making after all? We’ll never truly know the answer to that.

I went to a predominantly white elementary/middle school and during a 6^th grade dance, one of my white friend’s mother told me that I was, “pretty for a black girl.” At the time, I didn’t let it affect me too much, but it’s something that I never forgot. My friend, we’ll call him Jesse, repeatedly told me that his mother didn’t mean it in a bad way and that she just thought I was pretty. Throughout the years, I thought of it from time to time. What did she mean by that? She couldn’t have meant it maliciously; I was just a child. However, what else could she have meant other than, black girls aren’t usually pretty but you are. She probably said it and forgot about it, hasn’t crossed her mine since, but for me, the impact was lifelong.

To be fair, maybe Maxim has a logical explanation for not having a black woman represented as the “Sexiest Woman Alive.” It is possible that the sexiest woman alive title is composed by votes, or algorithms. It has not yet been disclosed how they chose the women who make their list or cover. However, if it concluded based on a staff choice, I would say that they need to gather a more diverse team to make sure they are being racially inclusive. As I searched through Maxim’s contact list of editors and directors, I wasn’t surprised to find that they included mostly white men and women, other than Nick Cannon who was appointed the Entertainment Advisor in 2016, ironically, the same year Taylor’s cameo in Fade broke the internet. I’m uncertain of which came first. I do believe a diverse staff could help create conversations that would normally be ignored or make others accountable for decisions they make. Sometimes ignorance is the problem, but it can not be an excuse. Those in the media have a responsibility to consciously make an effort and educate themselves on other cultures and the importance of representation. The 11-year-old me in 6^th grade, surrounded by white girls with straight hair, thin bodies, and pale skin, could have really benefitted from seeing girls like me with coily hair, melanite skin, represented in the media but unfortunately that was not that case back then. Today, however, I refuse to be “pretty for a black girl,” ignored, or forgotten.