Beyoncé has a track record of allowing young, Black artists to get their shine and it was no different when it came to her cover for British Vogue.

Thanks to her, Kennedi Carter made history as the youngest cover photographer in British Vogue’s history. Carter became a fan of Queen Bey at the mere age of three and now at 21-years-old, she is responsible for the stunning cover that the “Black Is King” creator shot with the magazine.

“It feels like it dropped out of the sky,” said Carter. “I’m 21…I haven’t really had many opportunities like this.”

According to Vogue, Beyoncé specifically requested that the shoot be led by a woman of color. Alongside the magazine’s editor-in-chief, Edward Enninful, they came across Carter, a fine art photographer whose work is known for highlighting the “overlooked beauties of the Black experience.”

 

View this post on Instagram

 

Beyoncé by me for British Vogue Credits: #Beyoncé wears an @AlexanderMcQueen jacket, @AtsukoKudoLatex hotpants and @LouboutinWorld shoes for the third and final December 2020 cover of @BritishVogue. Photographed by @InternetBby and styled by @Edward_Enninful with hair by @JawaraW and colourists @Rachel_Bodt and @ShirleyGHauteHair, make-up by @FrancescaTolot, nails by @OhMyNailsNYC, set design by @StefanBeckman and lighting direction by @_Wordie. Photography assisting by @Ohmakeda & @myeshaevongardner. With thanks to Beyoncé’s personal stylist @ZerinaAkers and publicist @YvetteNoelSchure; Parkwood Entertainment creative director @KwasiFordjour and creative producer @LaurenLaLaBaker; @TravisKiewel and @RobFamous for @ThatOneProduction; and Vogue entertainment director-at-large @JillDemling. Representation- @candacegelmanassociates

A post shared by Kennedi Carter (@internetbby) on

Carter’s themes seem to be in alignment with Beyoncé who has made uplifting people who look like her a priority.

“I thought I wouldn’t be able to do something at this level unless I was older, with many years in the game,” Carter said. “This is for people at the pinnacle of their careers.”

While she is young, it’s clear that Carter has arrived early. Now joining the ranks of elite Vogue cover photographers for what is her first-ever fashion shoot, Carter was able to capture Beyoncé in full “bow down” mode — between a location in the Hamptons and a studio — over the course of two days in August reports Vogue.

With Carter being a daughter of the South, many believe this didn’t go unnoticed by Beyoncé during her selection process for a photographer.

“It’s really amazing that she’s using her influence to be able to give young artists this experience, and allowing their voices to be heard,” said Carter. “She’s opening the door for others.

Carter is set to graduate from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro next year with a degree in African American studies. However, she makes it clear that she’s in no rush to relocate from Durham.

“I think I’ve spent a good amount of time proving that my work is good enough to be able to do it from anywhere,” Carter said.

Congratulations to Kennedi Carter on such a full-circle accomplishment!