The Beauty Behind Teen Vogue
Sitting in the lobby of the Condé Nast building in the dead of winter, waiting, sweating, excited for the moment to finally go upstairs. Outside sits the fountain that memorializes 9/11. I’m in an oversized bomber jacket and an original Van, checkered pattern, waiting for someone to come downstairs and notice me. Suddenly, I hear heels clicking… the “clackers” from The Devil Wears Prada. Yet this is far from the faux magazine Runway, this is real life. It might be Anna Wintour. But no, it was Elaine Welteroth, the editor in chief of Teen Vogue. Beautiful, smiling, her skirt swaying, her heels clicking and she’s black; finally there is a black woman. In this moment she became my role model, almost a saving grace for a young black male who wants her position at 30 years old.
As a role model, one must have some relation and similar experiences as the person who is looking up to them. There are few role models for young black creatives in the fashion industry, at least ones that look like them. But those who are making strides for the black community in a space where they are inhibited surely are making more noise. The newly appointed editor-in-chief of Teen Vogue, Elaine Welteroth, fits the perfect description of a positive, successful, black role model in the fashion industry. She is an African-American woman defying the odds in an industry that is vital to our daily entertainment. I think that makes her the epitome of #BlackGirlMagic.
As the youngest editor-in-chief in Condé Nast history and the second black editor, only second to Keija Minor who was appointed EIC of Brides in 2012, Welteroth has become a pioneer for not only the fashion industry, but also black women. Not only is she a mogul in her own right, she is an inspiration to young black professionals entering a field known to be filled with white supremacy.
Welteroth might be young; however, her resume speaks for her vast knowledge and success. She began her journey as the Beauty and Style editor at Ebony Magazine, then the Beauty Editor at Glamour, raising her station to the Senior Beauty editor, and then becoming the Beauty and Health editor at Teen Vogue. After four years working with some of the best editors in the business, Elaine replaced founding editor Amy Astley in summer of 2016 as the EIC.
With 101k followers on Instagram, Elaine is really a part of the growing culture on social media. Her online presence adds to her knowledge of what is going on in the world and what teens actually want to read.
Adding to her list of cool girl status, she’s been featured on the hit show Black-ish after putting actress Yara Shahidi on the cover of Teen Vogue. Yara has been one of very few black women selected to grace the cover since its inception in 2004. Welteroth is opening the door for the conversation of the absence of blackness in the fashion industry. When she arrived, she was the first black woman to be the Beauty Director. She told Racked in 2013, “In general, our world is getting more multicultural by the minute. It’s a step in the right direction when the workplace reflects that. I think that beauty is an important space to see a range of perspectives, because it’s a particularly personal topic.”
At that time I am sure she did not imagine herself climbing to the top rank of Teen Vogue; yet, her stance on being a self-proclaimed “big sister” to young girls is shining as bright as ever.
Her contributions to Teen Vogue have allowed for the magazine and its brand to advance into a publication that stays true to its fashion and beauty roots, but also address pertinent issues that are faced by the youth of America. Like the recent presidential election which was covered in the magazine. In a sense she’s helping to raise young girls into women. Having exposure to the real world at an early age matures women to be successful in their own right.
So, if you don’t believe that she is a phenomenal woman, than you don’t know what #BlackGirlMagic really stands for. Elaine is spreading her knowledge and experiences through the industry with a beautiful smile and an impeccable style.
