Vogue Italia launches Black and Plus-Size Sites

Vogue Italia proves its at the head of a progressive movement, recently launching websites separately celebrating black and curvy girls.

Vogue Black takes a look at Tyra Banks' style, features a video of model Tolula Adeyemi and has an article about taking care of natural hair styles.

The site also boasts stills from Vogue Italia's celebrated Black and Black Barbie issues.

On the curvy site, the Italian edition celebrates the chic of voluptuous stylistas like Crystal Renn, America Ferrera, and Lizzie Miller.

It seems strange that a country like Italy, which is not as diverse as the United States, somehow beat American Vogue to the punch. African-Americans have been complaining for years about the lack of multiracial representation in national magazines. It took a small European offshoot to get the ball rolling.

Even though Italian Vogue has made a laudable effort, both sites need a lot of work before they can live up to their names. Vogue Black contains only one beauty article and lots of pictures. Vogue Curvy is very much the same. Can we get some substance?

What do you think of the sites? Check them out at www.vogue.it/en.