The August 2026 issue of COVERED. by KLS puts Teyana Taylor front and center as inaugural Chief Curator of the Essence Festival of Culture Presented by Coca-Cola, where a BET Icon Award confirms what the culture already knew. From Darie Jones and the DMV Awards and Fashion Show to Three Nights at the Dome, Pastor Mike Jr. bringing the church to Essence, and Michelle Obama and Keke Palmer on The LOOK, this issue moves through the culture with precision. Fashion. Music. Icons. Covered.