Nina Garcia continues to demonstrate some serious pull as ELLE editor-in-chief. Last year, names like Jennifer Aniston, Mia Goth, Victoria Beckham, Rosalía, Lindsay Lohan, Addison Rae, Daisy Edgar-Jones, Zoë Kravitz, and Lady Gaga graced the Hearst-owned fashion publication. Garcia, who has headed up the magazine since 2017, now welcomes Raye onto the cover of ELLE, who fronts the February 2026 edition of the magazine. The British singer-songwriter and record producer is profiled for the occasion by the photographer Willy Vanderperre. The Grammy Award-winning hit maker radiates joy in the cheerful cover image. Captured in crisp black and white, Raye wears a dress from Rahul Mishra, a headpiece from J.R. Malpere, and earrings from Van Cleef & Arpels (each selected for the occasion by stylist Paul Sinclaire).
Raye for ELLE February 2026
Read below the reactions of theFashionSpot’s forum members:
“The styling is all over the place. Very weird,” immediately noted Kite upon checking out the cover.
“Yeah… not for me (and probably not helped by the fact that I genuinely couldn’t care less about Raye). I see flashes of Mica Argañaraz here, but the whole shoot just feels very cold, sterile, like an afterthought, and a complete non-event,” vogue28 critiqued.
MModa wasn’t feeling it either. “I do not love the cover shot with her mouth open, pretending that she is singing,” they shared.
Not everyone was disappointed, however. “I love it. I’m not familiar with her music, but she’s always giving me the joy vibe,” noted JPineapple.
“She looks like she wants to be there, she’s up for putting on a show, and she looks like she’s enjoying getting all dressed up,” admired tigerrouge.
See more of Raye from the ELLE February 2026 cover shoot and click here to join the conversation.
