Harper’s Bazaar was on the lookout for the boldest, bravest, most fearless females out there. Not only did they find them, but they gathered them in one place: the annual Daring issue. This year’s list of top trailblazers includes heroes in every form, from musician (St. Vincent) to athlete (Serena Williams) to journalist (Megyn Kelly) to actress (Julianne Moore) to stylist (Amanda Harlech). We’ve plucked a few preview highlights from the issue, which hits newsstands in full force on October 20.
ST. VINCENT
Shot by Ben Hasset, wearing a jacket, shirt, and pants by Alexander McQueen
On her relationship with Cara Delevingne putting her more into the public eye: “There’s been a little bit of enigma peeled back as of late. But I have a rich life that has nothing to do with the flim-flam. I know there’s a through-the-looking-glass version of myself, and I don’t feel particularly attached to that version, especially as it pertains to the public eye – it’s kind of removed from my actual life. The long and short of it is that what people think of me is none of my business.”
On her reputation for guitar-throttling, full body performances: “Part of what happens on-stage is a physical exorcism.”
JUSTINE KOONS
Shot by Martin Schoeller, wearing a dress by Gucci and a necklace by Gus+Al
On how she met husband Jeff Koons at a bar in SoHo while on vacation from her home in Johannesburg, South Africa: “I was drinking whiskey on the rocks and I think Jeff had a beard. I didn’t have any intention of leaving South Africa. It just happened spontaneously and serendipitously.”
On women she considers to be daring: “Women in general are very daring, because even now there is still extraordinary discriminations and violations of women’s basic human rights. Women like Malala Yousafzai, Ayaan Hirsi Ali, and Roberta Kaplan are leading the charge.”
SERENA WILLIAMS
Shot by Douglas Friedman, wearing a jumpsuit by Ralph Lauren, earrings by Tiffany & Co., a ring by Roberto Coin, and sandals by Christian Louboutin
On what daring means to her: “Daring to me is taking a chance but not doing it blindly. A very calculated change. Think of amazing women like Sheryl Sandberg and Oprah Winfrey – they’re daring, but they’re not jumping off a building without a parachute, you know?”
On there being no choice but her to play boldly: “Some people are born to do certain things, and I think I was born to do tennis. I definitely didn’t miss my calling!”
SUSIE WOLFF
Shot by Martin Schoeller, wearing a dress by Marc Jacobs and shoes by Christian Louboutin
On turning up to Formula 1 events in Alexander McQueen and Balenciaga: “Many people have this false presumption that I’m a tomboy because I’m a racing driver. In my 20s, I kind of figured that fashion was going to be quite an important tool to fight against the stereotype.”
On why she doesn’t believe Formula 1 racing should have a separate women’s league: “If it was down to sheer physical power, I’d be the first to say, ‘I don’t have as much muscle as that guy.’ But when you factor in the car, there’s no reason a woman can’t compete, and I have proved that through my test-driving.”
GWENDONLINE CHRISTIE
Shot by Thomas Schenk, wearing a cape by Giles, a swimsuit by La Perla, and sandals by Giuseppe Zanotti Design
On what daring means to her: “Daring to me is to step outside the confines of conventional thought. In heels.”
On finding herself at the epicenter of three massive pop-culture movements: Game Of Thrones, Stars Wars: The Force Awakens and The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 2: “It means there’s a shift in our culture and our way of thinking about how women are perceived. People want to see a more diverse representation of women than the homogenized ones we’ve had so far.”
