When private jet travelers are asked to describe Elite Traveler, men typically say it’s the magazine with the beautiful women on the cover, and women say it’s the magazine with the great jewelry and fashion on the cover.
With a readership that is split 60/40 it is obviously important to appeal to both sexes, and it is nice to know when we launched in 2001 we created a winning formula.
I’m often asked who chooses the models? That would be Canadian Drew Taylor who cut her teeth at Cosmopolitan, Fitness Magazine and Stylesight before joining us as an Associate Editor four years ago. One year ago, Drew was promoted to Style Editor when her predecessor Tanya Dukes moved to Condé Nast.
And of course the next question is who are the cover girls of Elite Traveler?
As Drew celebrates her first anniversary, I figured let’s take a look. Her first subject was Marcella Sbraletta who has been seen in ad campaigns for Sisley, Patricia Underwood and Patene. The German stunner impressed one reader enough that he wanted to buy the $200,000 Jacob & Co necklace she was wearing on the cover as a present for her. While there have been several prior love connections I am aware of, I don’t have an update on this one.
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In July/August, Fabienne Vanderhaeghen – who has graced the pages of Elle, Grazia, Cosmopolitan and Elle Italia wore Bottega Veneta with jewelry from Roberto Coin, Carrera y Carrera and Judith Ripka. The winners of our annual 101 Top Suites issue definitely benefited from both Fabienne and the amazing jewelry, making this an irresistible cover!
Bringing in the Fall in style Russian model Olga who has appeared in W and Numero wore a Ralph Lauren Italian designer Marco Bicego jewelry. For November/December, with GQ, Marie Claire, Harper’s Bazaar and UK Glamour credits, Caris Tiivel created plenty of holiday cheer with Cora jewelry wearing Zac Posen on the cover of Elite Traveler.
Our January/February cover featured rising star Ukrainian Anastassia in a close-up wearing Bottega Veneta fine jewelry. March/April features Barbara Berger whose credits include Elle, German and Brazilian Vogue. Timed to the Basel Watch Fair she is modeling a Ulysses Nardin watch.
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Obviously making the covers look stunning takes a lot of talent and there’s plenty of that among our photographers, stylists and creative directors. Raise your glass please to Ben Duggan, Tom Corbett, Giles-Marie Zimmerman, Nikko Kefalas, Christine de Lassus, Simon Rasmussen and Joanne Genzone. Between them their credits span likes of Vogue, Elle, Nylon, Harper’s Bazaar, Surface and GQ as well as ad campaigns for Adidas, Target and Guess.
So what does it take to be a cover model for Elite Traveler?
“We look for girls that are elegant and beautiful but still have a bit of an edge,” Taylor told me.
“When I attend private jet shows and talk to the pilots, flight attendants and FBO customer service agents who put Elite Traveler on to the planes, I am always happy to hear over and over again, ‘Our customers love your magazine’.”
Of course as all publishers know, readership starts with getting consumers to pick the magazine up. So here’s to the cover girls of Elite Traveler, the extraordinary jewelry and fashion they model, and of course Drew and her talented team.
