Lupita Nyong’o for Vogue US July 2014

Lupita Nyong’o graces Vogue US July 2014 cover. The young actress stars in a beautiful editorial shot in May in Marrakech by Mikael Jansson.

In an interview for the magazine Lupita talks about winning the Oscar, becoming the a fashion icon, the face of Lancôme and being on the cover of Vogue magazine. Here are some highlights :

On her surreal year : “Indeed I did ( have a surreal year) . It just feels like the entertainment industry exploded into my life. People who seemed so distant all of a sudden were right in front of me and recognizing me—before I recognized them!”

On being a fashion icon : “It’s a job; it’s work, you know!” she tells me. “We’d just try, try, try, try, try, try, try. At first it was very daunting, but I ended up really having fun with it.”

On 12 Years a Slave : “I was really nervous about seeing myself in 12 Years a Slave because it had been such a profound experience in all ways. I remember it being one of the most joyful times in my life—and also one of the most sorrowful. I didn’t want my experience to be a vain one. But I will say that when I watched it, my heartstrings were pulled so tight for Solomon that I couldn’t go into the ego trip. I cried—I mean, I was inconsolable. I wept for an hour after the movie.

Vogue US July 2014 issue :

Celeb : Lupita Nyong’o
Photographer : Mikael Jansson
Stylist : Phyllis Posnick
Make-Up : Mark Carrasquillo
Hair : Bok-Hee