To celebrate Elle’s 40th anniversary this year, we look back at some of the biggest moments in the magazine’s celebratory history. From groundbreaking designers and models to the hotly-crowded stars who have filled the pages to the hottest stars who have adorned their covers. First, we revisit our favourite cover stories and celebrity quotes over the years. Additionally, some new reflections from the Moguls themselves.
Veronica Webb
ELLE November 1990
“I can’t thank you enough for putting me on that dream team and giving me the incredible image that defined my career… I turned my head, clicked on the camera, and Jill yelled “oui.” That was the cover. ”
Venus Williams
“Serena and I are bold. We stand out. We are strong. We are smart.” – Venus Williams, 2001
Heidi Klum
L May 2003
“(El) was fresher and more natural than usual. They had nothing against my curves. Strong women.” – Heidi Klum, 2025
Paris Hilton
March 2004
“My cover was a huge moment because I proved that I am not just a girl in a simple life. Fashion has always been a big part of who I am.” – Paris Hilton, 2025
Britney Spears
El October 2005
“I think my mother thought I was going to wait and get married for a while. But those weren’t Britney’s plans!” – Britney Spears, 2005
Mariah Carey
L August 2008
“They’ve called me Cinderella ever since I first started” – Mariah Carey, 2008
Katy Perry
March 2011
“I pulled out the rug from under my feet multiple times. “Listen, bitch, you’re not going to serve this on a silver platter. You have to work for it!” – Katy Perry, 2011
Serena Gomez
Elle July 2012
“I’m growing up, and whether I’m the right or wrong step, it’s going to be interesting and scary.” – Selena Gomez, 2012
Ritaora
ELLE April 2013
“The wild moment I remember from the Elcaul Shoot was that I was holding this latex hat in such a way that I was filming this in London, so I was walking up and down the streets of London, I couldn’t hear anything and I couldn’t breathe.
lady gaga
Elle October 2013
“I’m great under pressure. I’m a warrior. I’m Rocky, I’m Round 12.” – Lady Gaga, 2013
Zoe Saldanya
ELLE November 2014
“(My sister and I) are not Americans in terms of feeding that machine that you have to be. We were someone at the moment we were born.” – Zoe Saldaña, 2014
Beyonce
May 2016
“I want to help society remove the pressure to put people in a certain box.” – Beyoncé, 2016
load
ELLE June 2017
“To do the work I made, I can’t feel like a celebrity.” – Lord, 2017
Rihanna
Elle October 2017
“Let me say I’ve always been a dreamer…or I’ve kept my options open. In my mind, I knew singing would be my future, but I thought of psychology, banking, education, acting, modelling, aviation, philanthropy.
Nicki Minaj
ELLE July 2018
“People come so easily for me. I could fall asleep. But I’m a very perfectionist, so when something was too easy for me, I actually feel guilty.”
Ariana Grande
ELLE August 2018
“We are dust spots of this tiny planet in this huge solar system, dust spots of this little planet even in the situation of a huge, mystical black hole…” – Ariana Grande, 2018
Taylor Swift
Elle April 2019
“You have too much space in your life and there’s a lot of energy to give to those out there. Wake up. It’s not cruel for someone in your life to hurt you, hurt you, cause pain so that it feels unsolvable or block their numbers.
Indian Moor
ELLE June 2019
“I don’t know if I’m outside of people trying to be free and find safety for myself and others.” – Indya Moore, 2019
BlackPink
L 2020 October
“When you say ‘blackpink in your area’, we literally say we have good music in your area.
Jennifer Lopez
L February 2021
“I’m going to sing “I was born in America” with my daughter because I want to be the flag of America, but when I open it, I want them to know that my heart and soul are Puerto Rican” – Jennifer Lopez, 2021
Maruma
L February 2021
“I always say that music saved my life and my family’s lives. For me, music is everything. — Maluma, 2021
FKA twig
March 2021
“At what point does Hollywood start looking at money and seeing people’s safety?” – FKA Twigs, 2021
Worship Akech
L August 2021
“I never thought, in my wildest dreams, I had achieved half of what I had now.” – Adut Akech, 2021
Billie Eilish
“From the start, almost all of my videos were my own ideas. I didn’t know I could oversee them. It’s hard to translate the idea that you have in your own head – to make someone else understand it, and to make it live.
Zoe Kravitz
March 2022
“I didn’t make choices based on what I felt good about. Now, what do we actually want?
A precious lee
L2022 April
“I know my power. You may not know my power yet. I don’t have to force you to see you. You’re going to see it.” – Precious Lee, 2022
Adele
L September 2022
“But one thing I find so lucky with how big my life is right now is that I really lived a normal life. Do you know?” – Adele, 2022
lily-rose depp
L December/January 2022
“There’s nothing more fun than trying to sink my teeth into something and try to understand them over and over again.” – Lily-Rose Depp, 2022
Megan Trion
L May 2023
“I’m choosing to change the story because I’m more than my trauma.”
Zendaya
September 2023
“I can’t be a person, I don’t live my life, I don’t love those I love. But I control what I choose to share.” – Zendaya, 2023
Daniel Brooks
L2024 December/January
“The clothes were amazing. I loved the hair too. There were some horrors at the time, and Nikki Nermus was murdered. I loved singing on set with Fantasia and Taraji. I had a really good time.” – Daniel Brooks, 2025
Nicole Kidman
L2024 April
“We are fortunate to have a job where we can explore heavy, strange, extraordinary, strange, beautiful, deep emotional landscapes.
Mikey Madison
L2025 December/January
“I remember being deeply honored to be included with such a moving group of actresses, stopping moments like this and experiencing moments that are part of an iconic magazine like Elle.
Demi Moore
L2025 December/January
“We are focused on things that aren’t, but we miss all of our beauty. Things have love for my body, but it is about gratitude.
Saoirse Ronan
L2025 December/January
“I’m an actor. My side is in my job that I want people to see.” – Saoirse Ronan, 2025
Pamela Anderson
L 2025 January Digital Cover
“The impossible is what excites me.” – Pamela Anderson, 2025
Daisy Edgar Jones
L2025 April
“Because every character you play is complex and deep, and that’s how it’s human.” – Daisy Edgar Jones, 2025
Addison Ray
L May 2025
“In life, everyone acts. We’re all doing the show, right?” – Addison Ray, 2025
Lindsay Lohan
El Summer 2025
“I always want to make such a film – it makes people happy and brings people together. I love making films for that. Find something that people can run away and incorporate into their lives and realize that everything is okay.” – Lindsay Lohan, 2025
Rosalia
September 2025
“The driving force that leads to continuing to make music must come from pure places. Motivations like money, joy, power… I don’t feel fertile. Nothing comes from there.
