The Next-Gen Issue

This issue is a love letter to what’s next. As Byrdie steps into a new era—one rooted in community, niche moments, and unapologetic individuality—it feels only right to do so alongside Shrinking’s Lukita Maxwell: an actor, dancer, and creative who embodies multidimensionality and intention. Her cover shoot unfolds in three acts: the ballerina, the actor, and the clown, as a metaphor for the layers of self we carry, shed, and celebrate. The Next-Gen Issue is a meditation on growth, artistry, and everything in between.

But Lukita isn’t just our cover star—she’s the narrator of her story. Her cover profile is written as a personal essay, in her words, offering a rare, unfiltered glimpse inside her brain. Alongside her story (and the unbelievably gorgeous shoot, IMO), we have stories that explore the return of past trends, the rise of new ones, and the deeper conversations about who we are and how we want to be seen. And, for the very first time, we have three distinct covers, and the entire issue unfolds in cinematic vignettes across Byrdie’s social channels. Follow along for a treat. I hope you love it.

x,

— Hallie Gould, editor in chief