October: Chloe x Halle
Let's go in chronological order, though. First, Chloe x Halle. Cosmo has REALLY wisely cleaned itself up, visually speaking. This cover looks extremely slick, and I love how Chloe and Halle look on it. Must as they are in life, they're similar, but just different enough, and the vertical stacking is extremely effective.
I see this photo and just think of Janice Dickinson telling the ANTM contestants that nobody really wants to see that much armpit. And I keep worrying that tube top is going to pop off, which is a crazy thing to worry about a still photo where she doesn't then have to go into an event.
I genuinely have trouble telling them apart. They play twins on Grown-ish, despite being two years apart in real life, and it totally works. I BELIEEEEVE that is Halle on the left? Her shirt is very cool, and probably extremely scratchy.
November: Barbie Ferreira
I like this dress on Barbie, but she has a lot more personality in this profile than you would guess from this photo. It's not superb of her face; she looks a little uncomfortable, which is a stark contrast to...
Barbie
... this one. Obviously this isn't a cover because she's turned sideways, but the warm light and the joy radiating from her is so engaging.
She reminds me of Selena Gomez in this photo.
Obviously I wish that one had been on the cover. (Also, this just made me realize that Chloe x Halle didn't do ANY photos with food, which is a real rarity for Cosmo these days.)
When I saw the thumbnail, before I downloaded this, I thought she was holding a giant stick. I kind of love this? Honestly, a variation on THAT -- framed differently -- for "The Barbie Ferreira Era" feels like it could've been a celebratory cover.