Glamor UK’s 2025 Women of the Year Cover Features Men

On Wednesday, Glamor UK revealed its 2025 Women of the Year cover, which notably features no women at all.

Instead, the cover showcases nine men, some with varying body types and others sporting long hair or breast prosthetics, all wearing shirts that say “Protect the Dolls.” This term “doll” is commonly used to describe men who identify as transgender and strive for a feminine appearance. Among the featured men are a model and activist named Bill, a communications specialist, and a DJ—all reportedly close friends. It begs the question: where are the firefighters in wigs or a brain surgeon flaunting long nails?

Piers Morgan commented on this atypical choice, stating that Glamor magazine’s decision to label nine biological men as “Women of the Year” is almost beyond parody, suggesting that it could signal a decline for the publication.

Shon Faye from Glamor UK mentioned during the shoot that to “protect your dolls,” it’s crucial to advocate for the needs of transgender women, emphasizing that they require love, career opportunities, and financial stability for true security and independence.

Some critics see this as a transparent attempt at virtue signaling. Others might argue that the quest for dignity can sometimes seem contradictory. Faye, identifying as a woman, asserts that true dignity is essential to existence, but some might argue that adopting a feminine identity complicates this pursuit in unexpected ways.

Author JK Rowling expressed her disappointment over the magazine’s choice, recalling a time when women’s magazines focused on encouraging girls to be thinner and prettier. Now, she observes a shift where these magazines seem to suggest that men can be better representatives of womanhood than actual women.

It’s almost amusing how these initiatives can backfire. Beyond the uncomfortable nature of the cover, one might wonder if this entire approach feels a bit outdated.

Glamor previously honored Bruce Jenner as one of its “Women of the Year” back in 2015, when transgender rights were becoming a focal civil rights issue. Now, ten years later, some argue that the movement seems to be diminishing. The rate of transgender identification among youth has reportedly declined, and some observers feel that the discourse surrounding cultural issues is shifting away from sexual identity.

Interestingly, the term “trans” has even been used pejoratively in recent conversations, reflecting a shifting cultural landscape.

Meanwhile, the multinational edition of Glamor has recognized six actual women as this year’s Women of the Year, maintaining a focus on diversity while sticking to the original intention of the accolade.