The protagonist of Horizon Forbidden West, Aloy has recently been featured in Italy's Vanity Fair magazine-- a very rare occurrence in the world of fashion. Forbidden West dropped onto the PS4 and PS5 just last week and has already been raking in praise. Much of this praise is centered on Aloy herself, with iconic filmmaker John Carpenter even complimenting the actress who plays her.

Aloy, who is returning as the protagonist after leading the story of the first Horizon Zero Dawn in 2017, has become part of the pantheon of iconic modern PlayStation characters. As the center of one of Sony's best-selling new IPs, she has certainly made her mark as a strong, likable, and charismatic fictional person who is worthy of standing among other popular characters like Kratos, Ratchet, and Ellie Williams. Aside from her respectable and stalwart persona, she has a very memorable and unique appearance; there are very few female protagonists in video games, and even fewer who boast red hair and freckles. Physical attributes like these have helped her make an impact on players, even if some fans overreacted to her slightly altered appearance in Horizon Forbidden West.

Related: How Old Aloy Is In Horizon Forbidden West

Legendary fashion magazine Vanity Fair appears to have taken note of Aloy's burgeoning icon status and decided to feature her in the magazine. As noticed by Game Rant, the Italian version of the publication has placed the red-headed archer on the magazine's cover, citing her "austere appearance" as one of the aspects that set her apart from other female characters in contemporary media. The feature goes on to detail Aloy's other unique characteristics, stating that "Aloy is neither mother nor spouse, nor supporting actor or helper, but a strong and courageous woman." The feature's author, Ofmario Manca, also spoke to Horizon Forbidden West producer Angie Smets, who told the magazine that the developers are proud of creating a likable character.

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If the countless Horizon Forbidden West cosplays haven't convinced players that Aloy is a beloved and iconic character, then this Vanity Fair appearance might. The gaming landscape has been dominated by male characters for decades and while many of those characters are great in their own right, it's always good to see more diversity in video games. Strong, well-written female characters like Aloy, Ellie Williams, and Celeste's Madeline will hopefully encourage other developers to step away from strictly making games about straight, white men.

Gender aside, gamers certainly have a deep affection for the character of Aloy. Her courage and optimism have made an impression on gamers across the spectrum of identity and will likely continue to do so as more consumers get their hands on the game. Only time will tell where Aloy will go following Horizon Forbidden West, but hopefully it will be a good place.

Next: Aloy's Spear Is So Much Better In Horizon Forbidden West

Source: Vanity Fair (via Game Rant)