NOVA, 1968

Nominated by Mandy Appleyard, editor, Fabulous:

In 1968, in an era when recipes, romantic fiction and homecrafts ruled the magazine world and where 'safe' was the name of the game, Nova dared to be different. This cover of the style magazine for "a new kind of woman" is bold and beautiful – the perfect cover for a politically radical, stunningly designed magazine for women who swam against the tide.

The words sum up the freedom of spirit, the defiance, the independence, the courage of young women daring to live life differently, as well as painting a surprisingly detailed portrait – in virtual bullet points - of one woman's chutzpah and confusion. A life story in 41 words. The photograph shows a fashionable, sexy, beautiful woman, confident enough not to be eyes-to-camera, holding a cigarette and ruminating. These two elements – simple but strong – make this, for me, the most memorable and seminal magazine cover of my lifetime.