NEW YORK — Vanity Fair on Monday revealed its newest cover star: Caitlyn Jenner, the Olympian formerly known as Bruce, who has publicly shared her transition from male to female.
After months of media speculation, Jenner announced in April “I am a woman” in an exclusive interview with Diane Sawyer. The latest issue of Vanity Fair chronicles Caitlyn’s journey and announces to the world her newly public identity.
“If I was lying on my deathbed and I had kept this secret and never ever did anything about it, I would be lying there saying, ‘You just blew your entire life,’” Jenner told Vanity Fair.
The cover was greeted with praise, with many on social media rallying around #CallMeCaitlyn.
Some family members also showed their support on social media Monday afternoon.
Caitlyn Jenner for Vanity Fair 📷 Annie Leibovitz! How beautiful! Be happy, be proud, live life YOUR way! http://t.co/39fryBwUqE—
Kim Kardashian West (@KimKardashian) June 01, 2015
Jenner also started a Twitter account
Why Caitlyn Jenner chose Vanity Fair for her debut
Caitlyn Jenner chose Vanity Fair to reveal her new identity because the credibility, elegance and permanence of a print magazine - particularly that magazine.
The former Olympic athlete revealed her name for the first time publicly on Monday via a 22-page cover story with the magazine with these three words, "Call me Caitlyn." The story was written by Buzz Bissinger with photos by the famed photographer Annie Leibovitz.
But of all the magazines and outlets, why did Jenner chose Vanity Fair?
"For one simple reason, Vanity Fair is the only magazine that combines celebrity and journalism," said Samir Husni, the director of Magazine Innovation Center at the University of Mississippi. "The credibility that a magazine like Vanity Fair carries in the marketplace cannot be match by the credibility of any other outlet when it comes to investigative journalism and celebrity journalism."
Husni said that the only other magazine that Jenner could have chosen was "People," but surmised that she went with Vanity Fair due to a "collectibility factor."
"That magazine will be retained, will be placed on a coffee table, placed on the shelf. People will pick it up," he said.
Jenner chose a magazine despite having publicly broaching the subject on television with ABC's Diane Sawyer.
However, Husni says that even the feel of Vanity Fair, which uses thick, glossy paper, played a part in the decision.
"For Jenner to chose print, to chose a magazine it is that textile feeling," he added. "If it was any pictures on a screen platform, now you see it, now you don't... print has longer lasting impact on you."
The magazine said Bissinger interviewed all three of Jenner's ex-wives — notably including Kris, who did not speak with ABC's Diane Sawyer.
"Bissinger spent hundreds of hours with the man the world knew as Bruce Jenner over a period of three months," the magazine said, "and then countless hours with Caitlyn, also attending the photo shoot with Leibovitz at Jenner's Malibu home."
While Vanity Fair is letting paying subscribers download the full article about Jenner right away, the rest of the issue won't be online for a week.
The print edition won't appear on newsstands until June 11 — in New York and Los Angeles — and June 16 nationally.
Jenner tweeted the photo of the cover from a new Twitter account with the new name.
"I'm so happy after such a long struggle to be living my true self. Welcome to the world Caitlyn. Can't wait for you to get to know her/me," tweeted Jenner.
The-CNN-Wire
