Vogue Singapore’s year in review: 16 key stories that defined 2024

1 / 16

Hakken on the cover of March 'Duality' issue

The renowned cosplayer and Malaysian enigma is the face of our ‘Duality’ issue, where they showcase an all-new side by transforming into revered American model and fashion icon Tina Chow. The shoot is accompanied by a no-holds-barred interview whereupon they share their unique viewpoint on gender norms, valor, and what it means to be a public figure in the age of social media.

2 / 16

Charli XCX on the cover of the April ‘Pop’ issue

Who better to front our exuberant ‘Pop’ issue than the inimitable Charli XCX? Ahead of the global phenomenon that was Brat summer, our jaw-dropping April cover featured the popstar lensed by legendary photographer Nick Knight, seen like never before. The shoot was accompanied by an intimate interview with the British-Indian singer-songwriter where she opened up about her heritage and using her voice for good.

3 / 16

Vogue Dialogues launches, celebrating Asian women in the literary world

This year, we launched a new video series dedicated to female writers, poets and literary voices driving change for good through groundbreaking work. The first two episodes featured two brilliant Singaporean literary figures—poet and festival director Pooja Nansi, and author Amanda Lee Koe—diving deep into their personal history and creative philosophies. With more episodes to come in 2025, this year’s edition culminated in an intimate live event, where we gathered diverse voices to discuss the future of literary spaces in Singapore. 

4 / 16

‘New Light’ in the March ‘Dualism’ issue

Tackling the erasure of male plus-size bodies in fashion, Vogue Singapore spoke to freelance artist and model Hydir on representation, identity and personal style. Shedding light on what body inclusivity looks like for men in 2024, he shared: “Growing up in Singapore in the early 2000s, the concept of ideal masculinity was heavily centred around toughness and emotional restraint. It seemed that every man was expected to embody a stoic leader, show no vulnerability and keep emotions tightly under wraps. There was also an association between masculinity and sexual conquest.” Touching on the reality of finding one’s style when you exist beyond the parameters of conventional standards, he added:  “My current style is somewhat of a compromise, influenced not only by my preferences but also by what’s available to me. In an ideal world where the size tag on clothing doesn’t matter, I think my style would be quite different.”

5 / 16

Anti-hot movement

Let your freak flag fly. For March’s ‘Dualism’ issue, Vogue Singapore’s associate beauty editor Emily Heng dug deep into the flip-side of conventional beauty through an in-depth exploration of the anti-hot movement—a subcategory of take-no-prisoners make-up that subverts expectations endorsed by the patriarchy. The piece was accompanied by introspective interviews with prolific make-up creatives in the vein of Celine Bernaerts as well as Kenneth Chia, who shared their views on this new female-coded phenomenon as well as the rise of a new type of sex symbol.

6 / 16

The May ‘Escape’ issue celebrates slow travel and regenerative tourism

The new face of travel is slow and considered. This year, Vogue Singapore unveiled its inaugural travel issue championing these very same qualities, curated for the inspired wanderer at heart. At the heart of the issue lies a comprehensive city guide immersing you in five creative destinations through the lens of a local, before whisking you off to Phinda, a wildlife reserve located in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, with conscious travel company, &Beyond—whom we are also partnering with to bring our community to Kenya in 2025.

7 / 16

The launch of our inaugural podcast series, Vogue Uncut

Helmed by the editors of Vogue Singapore, we launched Vogue Uncut, our first-ever podcast series, dropped in line with International Women’s Day. At its core, the series brings to the fore the lived experiences of modern Asian women through diverse, unvarnished narratives that uplift, inform, and inspire. Be it essential dialogues on egg freezing, necessary conversations on the societal norms which dictate women’s familial roles or a deeper dive into racism in Singapore’s creative landscape, each episode of the series encapsulates the spirit of empowered womanhood.

8 / 16

Momo on a first-of-its-kind digital cover for the June ‘Impact’ Issue

Marking yet another Vogue Singapore first, we collaborated with Onitsuka Tiger and Korean superstar Momo for the Japanese brand’s 75th anniversary. This digital cover was custom-designed by web artist Yehwan Song and featured an interactive movement at the touch of the user’s finger, unveiling Momo in a sunset-drenched hue, coupled with a captivating soundscape.

9 / 16

Riz Ahmed on the cover of Vogue Man

For the second instalment of Vogue Man, themed ‘Thrive’—led by the idea of dismantling traditional notions of male “success”—Riz Ahmed fronted the cover wearing the hottest pieces from Burberry. In his cover interview, the actor and rapper delved into life after representation and breaking the mould of masculinity. The issue encapsulated the hottest menswear trends of the season—from fashion and beauty to lifestyle, watches, and jewellery—forming a compilation of a mens-focused zeitgeist. Some key stories in this issue include a profile of senior model and cancer survivor Arun Rosiah and a catch-up with the fashion collective RYOT.

10 / 16

The new ‘Vogue Introduces’ pillar that spotlights emerging local and regional creatives to know

In an ongoing mission to champion local and regional talent, the new ‘Vogue Introduces’ pillar spotlights one fashion-adjacent creative every issue who is pushing the envelope and breaking boundaries within their respective disciplines. Several key features include multi-medium artist Anna Du Toit, streetstyle photographer Sky Alfonso, conceptual food artist Gong Hua, model-dancer Dineaish, and creative director-turn-DJ Nicolette Yip.

11 / 16

Four faces redefining Southeast Asia on the cover of the October ‘Community’ Issue

Commemorating four years since Vogue Singapore’s launch, this year’s anniversary issue–themed ‘Community’–featured four breakout faces from Southeast Asia. Lensed by Malaysian photographer Nelson Chong, the shoot spotlighted models Aslesha (Singapore), Suganya (Malaysia), Clarita (Indonesia), and Tu Anh (Vietnam), styled by our editor-in-chief, Desmond Lim. The issue was launched in tandem with the landmark event, Next in Vogue, and the cover came to life through a runway show fronted by the cover models, featuring fashion brands from the region, from Singapore’s Grace Ling to Vietnam’s Phan Huy.

12 / 16

Spotlighting local beauty collectives

At the heart of Singapore’s most beloved beauty and wellness destinations lies an unfeigned value of kinship and community. Vogue Singapore delved into the DNA of three local beauty collectives for the ‘Community’ issue, showcasing three modern-day collectives that have adopted a personal, heartfelt approach to their business and customers: 35A, a salon specialising in avant-garde hair styling looks; Hideaway, New Bahru’s hottest new concept focusing on healing and recovery; as well as Romi Skin, a cult-favourite local skincare label that has grown rapidly since its inception in 2022.

13 / 16

Next in Vogue returned for its second iteration

Earlier this year, the second edition of Next in Vogue returned, and it was bigger and better than ever. With a razor-sharp focus on the theme in mind, ‘AI and I’, the 2024 iteration of our multi-day affair offered a peek into the future of fashion through thought-provoking panels that gathered some of the industry’s biggest names, including couture designer Gaurav Gupta and Academy Award-nominee Stephanie Hsu. To add on, a flurry of beauty masterclasses, innovation showcases and a whopping exhibit featuring the works of Gupta, Chet Lo and Vietnamese designer Cong Tri were on display for all to see. Of course, in typical Vogue fashion, it ended off with a bang: with a grand gala night at The Capitol Kempinski Hotel.

14 / 16

Lucy Liu on the cover of the November ‘Nurture’ issue

Perennial Hollywood icon Lucy Liu graces our ‘Nurture’ issue, styled in the season’s most fantastical fashion by Nicola Formichetti. In a rare moment of vulnerability, the famously private star, who was one of the first Asian faces many modern viewers ever saw on the big screen, ruminates on what it means to nurture in its many forms, opening up about her journey into motherhood and the empathy with which she raises her nine-year-old son, Rockwell Lloyd Liu.

15 / 16

Neurodivergent individuals detail their ever-changing relationship with beauty

In an industry where neurotypical is the default, how do neurodivergent individuals navigate their relationship with skincare and make-up? The Vogue Singapore beauty team shed light on this in the ‘Gratification’ issue through a series of searingly intimate interviews with the neurodivergent community in Singapore. Interviewees such as Husnah Jamaludin, committee board member at the Disabled People’s Association; Ann Khoo, a TedxKL 2015 speaker, Tourette’s syndrome advocate and strategic planning director at 2X; Simranjit Kaur, a part-time TikTok content creator; as well as Joy Leong, PhD, a researcher and visual artist weighed in on what it is like to feel beautiful—on their own terms.

16 / 16

Sandara Park on the digital cover of the 'Gratification' issue