Contributors

Julianne ESCOBEDO SHEPHERD

"PLAZA SUITE," P. 96

"This was a terrific excuse to rewatch Aubrey Plaza in everything she's ever done," says Escobedo Shepherd, a writer and editor whose forthcoming book, Vaquera, explores growing up Mexican American in Wyoming and the myth of the American West.

Molly JONG-FAST

"GREENROOM WITH A VIEW," P. 40

Jong-Fast is the host of the podcast Fast Politics and a special correspondent at VF. She is working on a memoir about her complicated relationship with her mother, the writer Erica Jong, and has multiple dogs and teenage children— all of whom tried to talk to her while she worked on this month's column.

Mark SELIGER

"AN IDOL MIND," P. 42

A longtime VF contributor, Seliger's forthcoming book, Vanity Fair Oscar Night Sessions: A Decade of Portraits From the After-Party, will be published in November. At The Weeknd's home in Bel-Air, the photographer says, "my mind kept going back to the poetry of Abel's lyrics while relating to his love of film."

Robert CARTER

"SUCH A FUN AGE," P. 64

An Ontario, Canada-based illustrator, Carter recently received the Gold Award for editorial illustration from the Society of Illustrators of Los Angeles. When approaching this month's portrait of President Joe Biden, he wanted to depict a man that was grounded, confident, and focused.

Maureen RYAN

"LOST ILLUSIONS," P. 102

"it seemed like some people thought #MeToo and the latest reckonings on race and access had'fixed'the industry," Ryan says. "I did not agree!" She assesses Hollywood's problematic past and interviews reformers in the industry's trenches in her new book, Burn It Down.

Dan ADLER

"AN IDOL MIND," P. 42

In his profile of Abel "The Weeknd" Tesfaye, VF staff writer Adler was "reminded of how he's managed to preserve his initial allure even as he's scaled larger." Adler's reporting for VF on the celebrity megachurch Hillsong is the basis for the new docuseries The Secrets of Hillsong, airing now on FX.