“I’m not going to be defined by my age,” Madonna says in this fabulous interview, exclusive to ELLE. You have to agree with that. The diva of music defines the age– how can time limit her? So, 50 becomes a number and Hard Candy becomes the sweetest sound of today. The queen of reinvention is best defined by the word ‘zeitgeist’ – in every spirit of the times!

Which is why you are going to see this special cover on many of the 41 editions of ELLE across the world. And I can promise you that it will go on to become a collector’s item. The last time we got an exclusive with Madonna in March 2006, the issue created so much excitement that we got several emails – from as far as Bulgaria – asking us to send across a copy of the magazine. In fact, on eBay it was being sold at three times the cover price.

I cannot explain what makes Madonna the sensation that she is. But I don’t think that it needs an explanation. We all just need to bow to the queen and our June 2008 issue does just that. Acknowledge. Respect. Revere.

We also doff our hats to Robert Downey Jr. Featured on TIME magazine’s 100 most influential people list, the actor is back on the top of his game – leaving behind a turbulent past that involved drug and alcohol abuse. He proves that you can transform your life if you choose to, and the only boundaries are those you set. Look at Shiamak Davar, for example. Twenty-nine years on,he continues to dance, sing and inspire.

This month’s fashion pages are incredibly expressive. From watercolours to graphic swimwear, trends are strong and artistic, revealing a creativity that has never been seen before. It is, as if, a new season demands a new reason! In the beauty section, we have a report on the latest elixir of youth: Oxygen facials – Madonna swears by them too. Can a breath of fresh air ever hurt anyone?

This is a heavyweight issue. We have a special feature on how to reduce your carbon footprint when you travel. Make it your rule book when you plan your summer break. And yes, flag ELLE’s literary coup. Not only have we carried extracts from Mohammed Hanif’s new book, A Case of Exploding Mangoes, we also got him to write for us. Yet another exclusive. Only for ELLE!