Elaine Welteroth
Editor
Teen Vogue
California State University-Sacramento
Elaine Welteroth has been named the editor of Teen Vogue. As a young woman herself, Welteroth intends to meet her young, digitally connected readers where they are. She also hopes to increase the diversity of its audience. She took a step in that direction with an article she penned on maintaining (and loving!) her curly hair. Welteroth wrote:
“As a teen, every major moment was preempted by a torturous, hours-long hair-straightening session. Sleek, silky strands made me feel prettier. And the truth is, I was completely clueless about how to deal with my curls! When they weren’t flatironed into submission for special occasions, they were practically glued down with gobs of gel. Thankfully, my crunchy hair days are over.”
Welteroth revels in the challenge of joining the world of a sleek glossy that historically showcased white models with straight hair. Her goal is to also showcase women from African-American and Afro-Latin American communities.
Welteroth is the youngest person to be appointed to the title of editor-in-chief in Conde Nast history and is only the second African-American to head one of the company’s titles. (In 2012 Keija Minor became the first when the century-old company appointed her editor-in-chief of Brides in 2012).
Welteroth fully embraces social media to engage teen influencers of emerging fashion, beauty and pop culture She has nearly 50 thousand Instagram followers. She also has Twitter and Snapchat accounts.
The Path
After an internship in New York City at the communications and public relations firm, Ogilvy & Mather, Welteroth took a job as a content producer for the digital company, SomaGirls.TV. In 2008 she joined what was then Johnson Publishing Company’s Ebony Magazine as Beauty & Style Editor. Welteroth moved to the Conde Nast publishing company in 2012. Initially hired as the Beauty & Health Director, she was recently promoted to editor.
@ElaineWelteroth tweeted
FROS ON FROS ON FROS behind the scenes @TeenVogue Feb issue cover shoot. @amandlastenberg @Sarrjamois @lacyredway pic.twitter.com/BuOweG35Zw
— Elaine Welteroth (@ElaineWelteroth) January 7, 2016
