JANET STREET-PORTER: A trans cyclist, Kate Moss’s daughter… and Carol Vorderman. Box ticking and nepotism lives on at British Vogue in its new list of ’25 powerhouse, trailblazing’ women. But be careful…one minute you’re hot, the next you’re not

British Vogue’s smug wallies have compiled a list of 25 trailblazers who will ‘redefine’ Britain in 2023.

These “powerful” people range from the all too familiar to the completely unfamiliar.

From Kylie Minogue to the Queen, musician Raye, actress Jodie Comer and Alexander McQueen designer Sarah Burton to jewelry designer and filmmaker.

Carol Vorderman, former co-host of Countdown turned controversial on Twitter, is also on board.

Alongside an online clothing boss who describes herself as “asexual and aromantic” and the Frieze Art Fair director, originally from Hong Kong, are three baronesses and Coronation Sword champion Penny Mordaunt.

The sound of checkboxes is deafening.

Given that our women’s soccer team reached such glorious heights last year, how could the Lionesses be ignored?

There are a few eco-activists, one of whom happens to be Vivienne Westwood’s granddaughter. And a few models, including Lila, Kate Moss’ daughter. Nepotism lives on at Vogue.

Jody Comer has already won every award in the past two years: a BAFTA, an Emmy, an Olivier Award and a Tony. It’s all well deserved, but she’s not really a trailblazer these days, more like acting royalty.

Kylie – at 55 – doesn’t desperately need another Vogue accolade. She has just experienced worldwide success with Padam Padam, is about to release her 16th studio album and begins a residency in Las Vegas in about a month.

Who’s been a game-changer her whole life, sticking to her own style with no input from the pretentious folks at Vogue – Kylie is a quirky endpoint.

As for Queen Camilla, she hates pointless fuss and flim flam, and will cringe at the mere mention of the word “game changer”, because that’s not how she sees herself at all.

She’s solid as a rock, she’s really her own person. Having met her, I know she watches Loose Women and reads the Mail. She even sent me one of her sweaters with a jokey note a few years ago.

All the women on the Vogue list are smart. All are talented. But do they really change the world?

Baroness Casey has written a damning review of the Metropolitan Police. Let’s see how much is implemented in five years.

Controversial figure Baroness Scotland has been appointed Commonwealth Secretary General.

Baroness Hallett is chairing the UK Covid 19 inquiry. Why put them on a list now?

Their entire career has been spent in public service, doing work for which they are well rewarded.

The amount of research and detective work needed to find the real 25 women working to change modern Britain would have taken far more time and effort than this weak mishmash demonstrates.

She’s been a game-changer all her life, sticking to her own style without any input from the pretentious folks at Vogue – Kylie is a quirky, well-rounded person.

Former Countdown-turned-Twitter co-host Carol Vorderman is also on board

There are a few role models, one of which happens to be Lila, daughter of Kate Moss (pictured).

Where is the woman who just donated her uterus for a revolutionary marathon surgery so that her sister (born without a uterus) could have a much-desired child?

It is a selfless and inspiring act.

It seems more important (to Vogue) to have the right ethnic mix, the right age groups and the right causes, like mental health and disability, than to celebrate female brains and courage away from life under the stars. spotlights.

Lists like this are light tidbits scribbled on the back of an envelope, but – given that our women’s soccer team reached such glorious heights last year – how could the Lionesses be ignored? Could it be because many of them are the wrong color, have Essex hair and eyebrows and come from working class backgrounds? They are simply the best models for British women today, without a doubt.

And where is Katarina Johnson-Thompson? No mention of this superb athlete who has just won the gold medal in the heptathlon at the Budapest World Championships, after three years of battling a serious injury.

British Vogue editor Edward Enninful – who is clearly not a sports fan – has controversially decided that the only athlete worth mentioning in his ramshackle Call of Excellence is 22-year-old trans cyclist Emily Bridges.

Bridges, who competed on the British team for just a year before making the switch in 2020, was told she could not compete in the 2024 Olympics on the women’s team by British Cycling.

The debate over trans rights in sport and equal access for all genders has been highly contentious. This year the International Swimming Federation, International Rugby League, British Triathlon bosses and British Athletics have all ruled that trans competitors cannot compete alongside women who were female at birth.

Some sports disciplines are considering the possibility for trans athletes to participate in an “open” category alongside men in the future. These decisions will upset many and provoke further dissent and debate, but placing a trans cyclist with the Queen and Kylie hardly seems designed to bring about a change in attitude.

The Trailblazers are nothing but a parade of signs. A wishlist, just like that box you put all the clothes you’d like to buy but can’t afford when shopping online.

Elsewhere in the magazine, it’s business as usual from British Vogue, celebrating the deeply superficial world of high fashion and glamor at all costs. The cover of the September issue features more than 50 models, showing the rest of us regular size 16 people that growing old is easy if you have access to couture clothing and a team of skilled retouchers.

If you’re a ‘powerful person’ in 2023, you’ll – like last season’s clogs – be completely broken down a year from now (Picture: Janet Street-Porter)

Cindy, Linda, Christy and Naomi are repackaged show ponies to appeal to luxury advertisers and lend glamor to a magazine whose online readers tend to shop at Primark and Zara.

Women don’t need Vogue UK to feel inadequate and underachieving.

Vogue is incredibly superficial no matter how dressy they are in their attempts to honor good causes and reflect the lives of their readers.

Their circulation – like that of all glossy magazines – is steadily declining as readers prefer to chat online. These days, Vogue’s website needs to appeal to a younger demographic, women between the ages of 17 and 29. That’s why they devoted huge space to dear Coleen Rooney (hardly a Vogue follower so far), turning her into a high fashion icon. , as she promotes her take on the Wagatha Christie saga, coming soon to Disney+.

I salute all the women on Vogue’s list, but being placed on a pedestal has its downsides. If you’re a “power person” in 2023, you’ll be – like last season’s clogs – completely down a year from now.

In fashion, one minute you’re hot and the next you’re not.