As the world prepares to welcome a new year, ELLE China reveals its highly anticipated New Year issue featuring the magnetic and unforgettable Marina Chumakova as the cover star. More than a celebration of beauty, this issue captures a cultural moment: the rise of a woman whose elegance, emotional depth, and modern sensibility represent a new global standard of femininity.
Marina’s presence on the cover marks a milestone not only for her career, but also for a generation of women redefining how beauty is seen, felt, and expressed. The New Year edition focuses on emotional stylization—makeup not simply as an accessory, but as a language of inner strength, mystery, confidence, and desire. Marina embodies this theme with unusual precision. Her look becomes a story, a statement, and a mirror reflecting the growing global movement toward authenticity and empowered self-expression.
The visual concept of the issue centers on bold winter trends of 2025, such as dramatic eye makeup, understated metallic glow, and the golden tones that symbolize transformation. Marina’s cover look evokes cinematic intensity, combining soft “cat-line” detailing with a sculpted gaze that feels both intimate and unshakeably confident. As ELLE China notes, a single brushstroke can create an entire emotional narrative—and Marina’s portrayal does exactly that.
The story continues through the issue’s editorial spreads, where illumination becomes a metaphor for feminine power. This season’s signature luminosity is not the glitter of past years, but a refined, skin-infused radiance that signals inner vitality. Soft gold blends into the contours of the face, creating an impression of warmth that does not overpower, but rather whispers sophistication. Marina brings this vision to life with a harmony of elegance and strength, her presence transforming the pages into a cinematic journey through modern beauty.
The editorial also emphasizes skin as a canvas of character. Delicate matte finishes highlight freshness and dimension, while milk-texture creams melt seamlessly into the skin to create a natural, effortless glow. The effect is a timeless interpretation of luxury—one that appeals to both global beauty enthusiasts and high-fashion purists. Marina’s expression, posture, and energy throughout the shoot reflect this direction with remarkable subtlety, revealing a woman who is not performing beauty, but inhabiting it.
Color composition plays a central symbolic role in the story. Deep greens and classic reds appear as motifs of emotional intelligence and passionate focus, aligning with the New Year’s theme of new beginnings. In the editorial narrative, colors become declarations: green as a revelation of awareness and depth, red as a pulse of personal power and emotional presence. Marina channels these messages with grace, offering a visually striking and emotionally resonant performance.
For ELLE China, the New Year edition is more than a publication—it is a statement about the future of beauty in 2026. The magazine describes the New Year makeup philosophy as one of self-creation rather than presentation. It is not designed for others, but crafted as a ritual of identity, where confidence, femininity, and intuition come together as symbols of inner evolution. Marina’s cover reflects this philosophy fully. She stands as a portrait of a woman who has claimed her narrative, her image, and her voice.
The production team behind the cover—photographer Damir Zhukenov, stylist Ksenia Raiskaya, hair artist Albina Baghramyan, and makeup artist Yulduz Kallasova—worked collaboratively to frame Marina in a way that merges fashion artistry with emotional storytelling. The result is an aesthetic both refined and daring, rooted in the high-fashion codes of international beauty culture while carrying the freshness of a new chapter.
In the New Year’s cultural context, the ELLE China cover has long been regarded as a symbolic space of aspiration and trendsetting influence. Featuring Marina at this meaningful moment positions her among the global icons shaping the visual and emotional language of contemporary beauty. For audiences across Asia and beyond, she arrives not simply as a model, but as a muse for 2026—representing courage, expressiveness, and the irresistible force of renewal.
ELLE China highlights that while makeup lasts only a few hours, the feeling it evokes can remain for years. The New Year issue invites readers to explore this emotional dimension and recognize beauty as a powerful instrument of personal transformation. Marina Chumakova stands at the center of this message, offering an unforgettable interpretation of what it means to step into a new year with radiance, depth, and purpose.
With this cover, Marina enters a new phase of international recognition, reinforcing her status as a rising figure in global fashion. Her collaboration with ELLE China’s New Year edition sets a tone of elegance and ambition for 2026, inspiring women everywhere to embrace the magic of being seen—not just for their appearance, but for their strength, spirit, and story.
Marina Chumakova
Cover Star — ELLE China New Year Issue 2026
Photography: Damir Zhukenov
Styling: Ksenia Raiskaya
Hair: Albina Baghramyan
Makeup: Yulduz Kallasova
