FACE THE FACTS

THE biggest stars of the 80s and 90s knew they had made it when they landed the front cover of style bible The Face.

- SANJEETA BAINS

The trail-blazing magazine shaped young Britons' creative and cultural landscape through its arresting images, diverse articles and dry humour.

And it was ahead of its time by championing newcomers such as young Kate Moss and little-known band Oasis.

Former art director Lee Swillingham says: "It was amazing that I could discover new movies, music, architecture, books all carefully but casually curated all in one place.

"This was pre-internet and social media. Before algorithms took over pop culture, what we watch on Netflix and listen to. The algorithms were humans picking what would be in the magazine."

Lee is one of the people behind The Face Magazine: Culture Shift at London's National Portrait Gallery from Thursday.

It features iconic covers from the magazine, which ran monthly from 1980 to 2004, then quarterly from 2019.

Appearing in the mag is still sought after. A recent cover girl is model Lourdes Leon, whose mum Madonna featured in The Face five times.

The superstar first appeared on the cover in 1985, fresh from her Like A Virgin album. Record sales gave her popular success, The Face gave her kudos and cultural influence for years.

It was started by former New Musical Express editor Nick Logan, who was also behind the triumphant launch of Smash Hits magazine.