Shape September 2021

WOMEN RUN THE WORLD™ Meet Our Photographer The electric images that grace our digital covers are the work of award-winning photographer Djeneba Aduayom, seen above in one of the self-portraits she crafted during lockdown. “I always want to elevate and change the perceived ideas people might have,” she says. “Women are usually featured for their sexiness only, but they’re so much more. I want to show the layers of their beauty, their power, and their vulnerability.” Throughout the issue—and with this special series of digital covers—we highlight inspiring women who are shaping a healthier world. Click here to check out our cover stars. “With my artistry, I want people to see the human experience, that we are all one.”—Mj Rodriguez, actor and barrier breaker“Speaking up is so important. You could save a life if…

BE UNIQUE NEAL SCHULTZ, M.D. Dermatologist DENDY E. ENGELMAN, M.D. Dermatologist MONA GOHARA, M.D. Dermatologist ELIZABETH K. HALE, M.D. Dermatologist MICHELLE HENRY, M.D. Dermatologist MELISSA KANCHANAPOOMI LEVIN, M.D. Dermatologist ELLEN MARMUR, M.D. Dermatologist RON ROBINSON Cosmetic chemist GITA BASS Makeup artist PORSCHE COOPER Makeup artist NUNZIO SAVIANO Hairstylist BE STRONG + WELL JEN WIDERSTROM Consulting Shape fitness director, trainer, life coach ADAM ROSANTE Strength and nutrition coach NICOLE KEITH, PH.D. President of the American College of Sports Medicine CEDRIC X. BRYANT, PH.D. President of the American Council on Exercise JORDAN METZL, M.D. Sports medicine physician MICHELE OLSON, PH.D. Clinical professor of sport science SHAUN T Celebrity trainer ALEX SILVER-FAGAN Nike Master Trainer HARLEY PASTERNAK Celebrity trainer JAY WRIGHT Fitness expert, studio owner CARRIE PAGLIANO Clinical specialist in orthopedics CHRISTINE CARTER, PH.D. Sociologist ANATE AELION BRAUER, M.D. Reproductive endocrinologist MARK A. MOYAD, M.D. Complementary medicine expert PURVI PARIKH, M.D. Allergist and immunologist with the Allergy & Asthma Network FRANK…

Hey, September, I’ve got so much to say! FIRST, SOME PERSONAL NEWS I’m Liz, Shape’s new editor in chief, and I could not be more thrilled. I’ve watched (actually, loved) this magazine my entire career and respected how it draws a direct, vital link between health and confidence. More than any other health or fitness media brand, Shape captures the nexus of strength, beauty, and style in a way I find completely inspiring. And what timing: The need for trusted information about living well has never been greater than it is right now. I intend to answer the call for science-backed health, nutrition, and fitness advice and continue the magazine’s dedication to raising diverse voices and delivering inclusive information. Check out one first step in that direction: Our new section on page…

MIGHTY MESSAGE IN A BOTTLE These delightful Infinite She fragrances ($74 each, infininteshe.com) pair botanical blends with shout-outs to pioneering women—like the suffragettes—on the packaging for a double punch of a pick-me-up. Choose from four uplifting scents: Empowered with orange blossom and cardamom, Inspired with violet leaf and jasmine, Vibrant with yuzu and vetiver, and Fearless with geranium and rosewood. Click here to shop these products! HIIT Meets Meditation Your favorite workouts have already cracked the code for supplying sculpting and cardio in a neat package, and now studios like the new Mind Body Project in New York can help you also get your postpandemic head straight by bookending sweaty classes with doses of meditation. “It’s a holistic experience that taps into your physical fitness and mental wellness in one sitting,” founder Chris Stockel…

Our smiles frame our features and light up our faces. And when the corners of someone else’s mouth turn upward and their eyes crinkle—the telltale signs of a true smile, aka a Duchenne smile—it signals that they’re happy. These are things we inherently get. But when the masks went on, we felt it. Without seeing one another’s expressions, we deeply understood the impact that grins, openmouthed laughs, and subtle, secret smiles have on our connections. The instantaneous signal of friendliness was missing. The energy was off. Suddenly, there was a need for overgesturing to compensate. “Smiling is the most potent way to convey positivity and connect with others. It does that even better than words can,” says Michelle Wax, the founder of the American Happiness Project. “I witnessed the power of…

WOMEN RUN THE WORLD™ ASHLEY GRAHAM HAS her favorite products and a trusted routine—we’ll get to those—but what the supermodel and body-positivity advocate wants to make clear up front is that “beauty starts with being confident—and that comes from inside. Getting my hair and makeup done isn’t going to make or break my day. It’s confidence that affects how I’m going to feel.” She also points out that beauty is subjective and thather preferences are evolving: “As a new mom, I’m all about efficiency—that’s what makes me happiest now,” Graham says. Brushing her eyebrows up and swiping on mascara are her two quickest and most powerful moves. She also applies her self-tanning mousse (a collaboration with St. Tropez) once a week. “As long as I have a tan, I’m good,” she says.…