His name may not be instantly familiar but Jenke Ahmed Tailly has been quietly working behind the fashion industry's most high stakes shoots. He is stylist to Beyoncé, Kanye West and more recently Kim Kardashian. <br />Pictured - Princess Deena al Juhani Abdulaziz and Jenke Ahmed Tailly attend Venyx new collection cocktail launch as part of Paris Fashion Week.
His name may not be instantly familiar but Jenke Ahmed Tailly has been quietly working behind the fashion industry's most high stakes shoots. He is stylist to Beyoncé, Kanye West and more recently Kim Kardashian.
Pictured - Princess Deena al Juhani Abdulaziz and Jenke Ahmed Tailly attend Venyx new collection cocktail launch as part of Paris Fashion Week.
Courtesy Victor Boyko/Getty Images
When asked to creative direct Parisian fashion title L'Officiel's 90th anniversary edition, Taille insisted the magazine put a woman of color on the cover and enlisted Beyoncé for the shoot.
When asked to creative direct Parisian fashion title L'Officiel's 90th anniversary edition, Taille insisted the magazine put a woman of color on the cover and enlisted Beyoncé for the shoot.
Courtesy Mark Pillai
Celebrating African queens, the images proved controversial, but successful.
Celebrating African queens, the images proved controversial, but successful.
Courtesy Jenke Ahmed Tailly
"They were not really sure the idea of African queens for a Parisian magazine would really work," he says. "But I was so determined with the idea."
"They were not really sure the idea of African queens for a Parisian magazine would really work," he says. "But I was so determined with the idea."
Courtesy Mark Pillai
Today - he's at the helm of the fashion magazine's September issue entirely dedicated to the African continent. <br />
Today - he's at the helm of the fashion magazine's September issue entirely dedicated to the African continent.
Courtesy Ellen Von Unwerth / L'Officiel
Featuring the likes of Iman and Ajak Deng, the issue pays homage to "the great continent of possibilities" writes its editors, "an inventive continent, connected, modern, human, inspired by stylistic diversity and cultural expansion."
Featuring the likes of Iman and Ajak Deng, the issue pays homage to "the great continent of possibilities" writes its editors, "an inventive continent, connected, modern, human, inspired by stylistic diversity and cultural expansion."
Courtesy Ellen Von Unwerth / Jenke Ahmed Tailly
A former model, originally from the Ivory Coast, Tailly splits his time between New York and Paris.
A former model, originally from the Ivory Coast, Tailly splits his time between New York and Paris.
Courtesy Ellen Von Unwerth / Jenke Ahmed Tailly
"When I have the power to book people, I really love to [book girls of color]" says Tailly, "diversity is a really huge part of my work."
"When I have the power to book people, I really love to [book girls of color]" says Tailly, "diversity is a really huge part of my work."
Courtesy Ellen Von Unwerth / Jenke Ahmed Tailly
"When I started my career," recalls Tailly, "there weren't a large group of diverse women. It was so bionic, it was so one dimensional."
"When I started my career," recalls Tailly, "there weren't a large group of diverse women. It was so bionic, it was so one dimensional."
Courtesy Ellen Von Unwerth / Jenke Ahmed Tailly
"Fashion" says Tailly "is such a good barometer of the era you live in." It's important for him to conduct research when creating looks he told CNN. "I want to understand what was the political point of view of that era," he says, "what was the intellectual thinking?"
"Fashion" says Tailly "is such a good barometer of the era you live in." It's important for him to conduct research when creating looks he told CNN. "I want to understand what was the political point of view of that era," he says, "what was the intellectual thinking?"
Courtesy Ellen Von Unwerth / Jenke Ahmed Tailly
Preferring to remain low-key - Tailly's Instagram account is private - a rarity for a stylist working today.
Preferring to remain low-key - Tailly's Instagram account is private - a rarity for a stylist working today.
Courtesy Ellen Von Unwerth / Jenke Ahmed Tailly
"I think it's changing" Tailly comments on the fashion industry's efforts to embrace diversity." It has tremendously evolved," he says.
"I think it's changing" Tailly comments on the fashion industry's efforts to embrace diversity." It has tremendously evolved," he says.
Courtesy Ellen Von Unwerth / Jenke Ahmed Tailly
On diversity in fashion, "is it enough?" he asks, "To my taste, absolutely not, but you know, we're getting there."
On diversity in fashion, "is it enough?" he asks, "To my taste, absolutely not, but you know, we're getting there."
Courtesy Ellen Von Unwerth / Jenke Ahmed Tailly
Editorial photographs for L'Officiel magazine.
Editorial photographs for L'Officiel magazine.
Courtesy Mark Pillai
"A girl from Sudan like Ajak [model Ajak Deng] could be like absolutely striking with really amazing features" says Tailly. "I mean the beauty in Africa is so diverse it kind of shows also the beauty of the world."
"A girl from Sudan like Ajak [model Ajak Deng] could be like absolutely striking with really amazing features" says Tailly. "I mean the beauty in Africa is so diverse it kind of shows also the beauty of the world."
Courtesy Ellen Von Unwerth / Jenke Ahmed Tailly