Nina Garcia sure does adore herself talent from the world of music for the covers of ELLE. Throughout her tenure as editor in chief (a position Garcia has held since 2017), names like Ariana Grande, Tyla, Cardi B, Lady Gaga, Addison Rae, Olivia Dean, Raye, and Billie Eilish have fronted the Hearst-owned fashion publication. Make no mistake that Garcia is a fan of Rihanna, who is granted her sixth American ELLE cover appearance with the September 2026 issue of the magazine. Unmistakably wearing Dior, the global superstar poses for the photographers Inez van Lamsweerde & Vinoodh Matadin for the occasion, complete with Jahleel Weaver reporting for styling duties.

Rihanna on the Cover of ELLE September 2026IMAGE | ELLE.COM Read below the reactions of theFashionSpot’s forum members:

“One word: awful,” immediately described Zorka upon checking out the cover.

“Not their best collaboration,” confessed mikel.

“Hard pass! It’s the September issue – where’s the new fall fashion on this cover? This could be any month’s cover,” shared a disapproving Handbag Queen.

“Has there ever been a more egregious example of a sponsor label on a cover of a major American fashion magazine? The only fashion represented on the cover at all, of the big “fashion” issue of the year, is just the word ‘Dior’. Ridiculous,” KoV scolded.

Sharing the same sentiments was Bertrando3. “It seems to have been a very rushed shoot. Or, they simply did not want to bother to work on the hair and makeup,” they commented.

Marsnoop2 declared: “The worst Rihanna has ever looked!”

“She looks like she’s suffering from one big headache. I would be too, if these were the results of the shoot,” expressed forum member Cocteau Stone.

“This is a prime example of how you cannot rely on big names like Rihanna and I&V to deliver a strong and compelling cover shoot, worthy of a September issue. This feels like a total non-event,” voiced an unforgiving vogue28.

See more of Rihanna from the US ELLE September 2026 cover shoot and click here to join the conversation.