Elaine George

Elaine George (c. 1976), later known as Elaine Tanaka, is an Aboriginal Australian fashion model. She was the first Aboriginal fashion modelmodel| to appear on the cover of Vogue magazine, in the Australian edition, September 1993.

Early life
Elaine George was born around 1976 and brought up in a housing commission (a form of social housing) home in Inala, south-west of Brisbane, Queensland. Her mother is of Arakwal descent, and her father (white) Australian of German ancestry.

She was a tomboy who liked sport, and her family, being poor, had never bought magazines. She was not allowed to wear make-up.

Vogue cover
George was photographed by photographer Grant Good, who spotted her at a theme park, Dreamworld, when she was taking her sister Anita out as a treat. He was there with his partner, Diana Finke, and their children, just a few days after having had a conversation with then editor of Vogue Australia, Nancy Pilcher, about not having featured enough Australian models on the cover.

Good sent test shots of her to Pilcher, who decided to put George on the cover of the September 1993 issue of the magazine. George was excited about being flown to Sydney for the shoot, having never been out of the state nor flown in a plane.

George was the first Aboriginal model to appear on the cover of Vogue.

According to former Vogue editor Kirstie Clements, the magazine received criticism for the fact that the already light-skinned George was blown out on the cover appearing to have even lighter skin then she had.