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Trending short videosZendaya's dramatic black and white portrait
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@essencegu_

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@essencegu_ In true Virgo fashion, Zendaya gave us a cover that will never go out of style. ⭐ In celebration of her birthday, we’re revisiting one of the most unforgettable ESSENCE covers and our personal favorite. Our November/December 2020 issue celebrating ESSENCE’s 50th anniversary paired breathtaking fashion with a powerful tribute to Black history. Zendaya paid direct homage to Donyale Luna, the trailblazing model widely recognized as the first Black supermodel of the 1960s. Every pose, beauty look and silhouette intentionally echoed Luna’s iconic images, honoring her legacy while introducing it to a new generation. With an all-Black creative team led by AB+DM Studio, Law Roach, Larry Sims and Sheika Daley, every detail, from the dramatic lashes and sculptural hair to the vintage-inspired styling, brought old Hollywood glamour to life. Six years later, this cover still stops us in our tracks. Here’s to another year of our girl and a cover we’ll never stop revisiting! 📸: AB+DM

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Performance

Views
3M
Likes
199.5K
Comments
1.1K
Engagement
6.7%
Outlier
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Video #41457 · Carousel

Zendaya's dramatic black and white portraitfrom @essencegu_

[01]

Overview

This is a striking black and white studio portrait of the actress Zendaya, shot for the cover of Essence magazine. The image features dramatic makeup and styling, with Zendaya looking directly into the camera while framing her chin with her hands. The purpose of the photoshoot was to pay homage to the first Black supermodel, Donyale Luna, for the magazine's 50th anniversary.

[02]

Simple outline

  1. 1Arrest with a striking portrait.
  2. 2Tell a story via composition.
  3. 3Anchor with minimal branding.

[03]

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[04]

Classification

Format
Carousel
Concepts
Artistic HomageEditorial CarouselShowcase
Elements
Intimate Close-UpMood LightingThematic StagingText Overlay
Account
BrandPersonal Brand
Topics
Fashion EditorialCelebrityBeautyCultural History

[05]

Hook analysis

What stops the scroll in the first 3 seconds

Verbal hook · 35%

In true Virgo fashion, Zendaya gave us a cover that will never go out of style. ⭐

Visual hook · 65%

A dramatic black and white close-up portrait featuring a celebrity's intense, direct gaze. The symmetrical composition, with hands framing the face, and striking, unconventional makeup (bold eyebrows and spidery lashes) create immediate visual impact.

[06]

Hook template

Steal this for your own video

A dramatic [color treatment] close-up of [subject] with [unconventional visual detail] that makes it impossible to scroll past.

  • — A dramatic black and white close-up of a chef mid-plating with sauce-stained hands framing the dish that makes it impossible to scroll past.
  • — A dramatic high-contrast close-up of a boxer post-fight with symmetrical bruising and a direct, unflinching stare that makes it impossible to scroll past.
  • — A dramatic desaturated close-up of a bride with avant-garde editorial makeup and hands framing her face that makes it impossible to scroll past.

[07]

Hook and payoff

The promise the opener makes, and how the video pays it back

Hook

A visually arresting, high-quality image that uses direct eye contact, dramatic styling, and a symmetrical composition to immediately command the viewer's attention.

Payoff

The payoff is the immediate aesthetic and emotional impact of the image, which is directly associated with the brand identity placed within the frame.

[08]

Narrative framework

The structural pattern this video runs on

Framework

The Singular Statement

To stop the scroll and deliver a complete, powerful narrative or aesthetic statement within a single, masterfully composed image. The entire story—subject, mood, and context—is conveyed in one frame, requiring no further slides.

  1. 1

    The Unified Frame

    The single slide acts as the entire narrative arc. It simultaneously presents the subject, establishes a powerful mood through lighting and styling, and provides context via a subtle brand mark, functioning as the hook, development, and payoff all at once.

Themes

  • homage
  • Black history
  • beauty standards
  • glamour
  • empowerment

Techniques

  • black and white photography
  • studio lighting
  • dramatic makeup artistry
  • symmetrical composition

Post caption

In true Virgo fashion, Zendaya gave us a cover that will never go out of style. ⭐ In celebration of her birthday, we’re revisiting one of the most unforgettable ESSENCE covers and our personal favorite. Our November/December 2020 issue celebrating ESSENCE’s 50th anniversary paired breathtaking fashion with a powerful tribute to Black history. Zendaya paid direct homage to Donyale Luna, the trailblazing model widely recognized as the first Black supermodel of the 1960s. Every pose, beauty look and silhouette intentionally echoed Luna’s iconic images, honoring her legacy while introducing it to a new generation. With an all-Black creative team led by AB+DM Studio, Law Roach, Larry Sims and Sheika Daley, every detail, from the dramatic lashes and sculptural hair to the vintage-inspired styling, brought old Hollywood glamour to life. Six years later, this cover still stops us in our tracks. Here’s to another year of our girl and a cover we’ll never stop revisiting! 📸: AB+DM

Text overlays

  • branding · photo_0

    ESSENCE

Zendaya's dramatic black and white portrait | Viral Hooks