Contributors

Abigail TRACY

"WHITE FLIGHT" P. 50

While reporting on the so-called Memphis Patriots, Tracy, a staff writer, called ringleader John Dobbs. "He didn't hang up the phone after the conversation," says Tracy. "I overheard him talking about Vanity Fair and myself to the people he was with: 'The last thing I want to do is talk to them.' "

Joshua HUNT

"THE MISSING MAGRITTE' P. 42

Hunt was in Belgium interviewing the federal prosecutor for a book project when the conversation strayed to a Magritte heist. "I let him keep talking, because what he told me was so compelling," says Hunt. "A story about stolen art, terrorist plots, and, above all, a missed opportunity to avert one of the decade's great tragedies."

Joyce MAYNARD

"SHAME THE DEVIL" P. 32

Joyce Maynard, who lived with J.D. Salinger as a young woman, was left unsettled by HBO's Allen v. Farrow documentary. "The kind of dismissal and humiliation Woody Allen supporters employed, attempting to discredit Mia Farrow, offered a chillingly familiar reminder of what I had experienced," says the author of the forthcoming novel Count the Ways.

Amy WALLACE

"KATHRYN HAHN ALL ALONG" P. 112

Wallace admits that the job of a profile writer has gotten harder during the pandemic. "Zoom is better than nothing, but it can be hard to get a genuine glimpse of the person on the other end of the laptop," says Wallace, who interviewed Kathryn Hahn for the issue. "She was hip to this and seemed eager to be truly known." Wallace adds, "What most struck me about Kathryn was her warmth."

Adrienne RAQUEL

"RAE OF LIGHT" P. 34

For Issa Rae's first Vanity Fair cover, Raquel photographed her at a legendary Los Angeles location, the Sheats-Goldstein Residence, "it was a major moment," says Raquel. "I've admired Issa for quite some time, and I love how she continues to be a trailblazer throughout Hollywood."

Casey WILSON

"FOR THE LOVE OF REAL HOUSEWIVES"

P. 30

"I'm done being a garbage-TV apologist," says Wilson, an actor and writer whose new essay collection, The Wreckage of My Presence, is excerpted this month. "Watching Housewives has been a form of self-care for me this past year, and I wanted to write a love/hate letter to my favorite frenemies."

Shiona TURINI

"RAE OF LIGHT"

P. 34

The costume designer on Issa Rae's Insecure, Turini was inspired to dress the actress in a new light for Vanity Fair— and not as her character, who has such a defined aesthetic. "For this cover I wanted to show the difference between Issa Dee and Issa Rae," says Turini. "She is a force on-camera, but we really got to explore the powerhouse that Issa Rae has become off-screen as well."

Tom CRAIG

"SCENE STEALERS"

P. 84

Craig, a photographer based in London, worked with rain and smoke machines, live doves, ball pits, and even a large fluffy cat on set. "When planning the shoot, I felt strongly that I wanted to tap into the classic heritage of Vanity Fair but with all the fun that we have been craving during lockdown," says Craig, "it was like post-pandemic pagan magic."

Zohar LAZAR

"WHITE FLIGHT"

P. 50

"The boll weevil was the perfect mascot for a privileged class that so blithely celebrates a shameful chapter in our nation's history," says Lazar, who illustrated wealthy Trump supporters traveling by private jet to January's "Stop the Steal" rally.

Yohana DESTA

"RAE OF LIGHT"

P. 34

Before she was assigned this month's cover story, Desta, a staff writer, had already interviewed Issa Rae several times, throughout the actor's rise. "She's the same as she ever was: quick-witted, kind, engaging, low-key," says Desta. "Even though her career has skyrocketed and she's worlds more famous than she was five years ago, she's still deeply grounded."