Redbook magazine lets 'real women' take over September cover

(Chris Craymer)

Every once in a while the fashion industry tries to celebrate the “real” woman. This woman could be your mom, your wife, your best friend; she’s not the usual celebrity cover model. Redbook Magazine’s September issue featured --for the first time-- ever six real women with real jobs as a part of their second annual Real Women Style Awards and the fashion industry is speaking out in favor of the model-less cover. But will it sell?

Some experts argue readers don’t want reality when it comes to their magazines.

“The issue will not sell well at all,” predicted Peter Davis, editor at large for The Daily Front Row Magazine. “Celebrity sells. People barely want reality on the cover of newspapers much less magazines.”

President of Maggie Inc. Models Robert Casey added that putting “real” women on the cover is less about inclusion and more of a publicity stunt.

“It might possibly sell because it is a publicity stunt and getting press, but it's a dubious long term business model for publishing these days.”

The modeling agent continued that the real women label is questionable at best.

“Models are real women,” argued Casey. “They have families and interests and lives outside of modeling. They are students, mothers and entrepreneurs. Having a certain look and dimensions may be what gets a model though the door, but having a personality, demonstrating complexities, and being ‘a real woman’ is what makes a model successful.”

Still, Redbook is excited about the issue and is confident that readers are ready for realness.

“As you know September is the month when fashion magazines spotlight the most well-known celebrities and fill their pages with looks from the designer runways. Those magazines are fun to look at, but for most of us they’re pure fantasy,” said Redbook’s Editor in Chief Meredith Rollins. “So to be able to create a September issue filled with fashion that is really actionable and useful-- but no less inspiring and just as exciting-- is pretty revolutionary.”

Redbook cover model and fashion blogger Christine Buzan told FOX411 that highlighting the everyday woman is empowering.

Christine Buzan for Redbook. (Chris Craymer 2013)

“It’s more applicable to the reader,” Buzan said. “It’s about accentuating about what you have and what works in your personal life. The Redbook ethos is about living the best version of your lives.”

But, she cautions, “You can’t replicate a $500,000 Chanel gown.  So, you won’t see an average size women modeling in Vogue because they are not the sample size for couture.”

And some argue the industry is embracing the idea of having everyday women grace the pages of magazines.

Craig Lawrence, president of One.1 Management, said Redbook is reflecting an overall attitude shift.

“The reality of the matter is there are more women that are a size 6 and higher than the 2 or 4. It’s not a trend…  It’s here to stay. ”

According to Rollins, Redbook is giving women what they want.

“I think that the media and brands are starting to become much more inclusionary. Dove is our partner in the Real Women Style Awards this year and they’ve been using everyday women in their campaigns since 2004. Celebrating women is something that is just as core to their brand as it is to Redbook. I certainly hope that the industry keeps heading this way-woman are demanding it.”