Mick Fanning is first ever male Elle Australia cover star

Words by Elliot Struck

Mick Fanning, that fabulously rough diamond who currently holds the highest placing on the surfing world tour, became beyond-surf famous back in July when he was attacked by a shark during the live broadcast final of the J-Bay Open. This you already know. Since then, Mick has become surfing’s Drake. His trajectory has been a constantly evolving storm of media attention. Major news sources now post daily reports from world tour stops, with headlines like Mick Fanning progresses in Portugal, closes in on world surfing title (ABC). KFC’s parody of the attack went viral, and it was global news when Mick’s mum denounced the ad. Mick’s spotlight burns more uncomfortably bright than ever before (but he still wins his round one heat at Supertubos!). Right now, Mr Fanning is very hard to ignore.

And so, highly popular women’s magazine, Elle (the Australian version) has handed Mick another ‘first-ever’ to add to his growing list, in the form of November’s issue cover. Elle is a women’s magazine of rich tradition. There’s never been a man on the Australian cover. But this issue, there he is, shirtless Mick Fanning, firm but gentle, standing in waist-high water with gorgeous Jessica Hart, who can barely fathom the rock hard pectoral muscle and beating heart beneath her resting palm. Sexy. Strong. Summer. So much promise! Mick will fight off a shark and then carry you to his hand-built beach house for Netflix and chill!

The story, written by Surfing World editor and divine existence, Vaughn Blakey, is an interview titled Close Encounter, the focus of which is Mick’s life, love and outlook after rolling around with the ocean’s greatest predator. It is a very engaging and enlightening read.

This is quite on-trend; 2015 is the year when the highest compliment a media house can pay is gender diversity when it comes to the magazine cover. Rhonda Rousey became the first woman on the cover of Men’s Fitness. And Mick Fanning became the first man on the cover of Elle Australia. What on Earth comes next for Mr Fanning?