It was a moment of anticipation when Ghanaian-British editor Edward Enninful revealed his departure from British Vogue, leaving many wondering who would succeed him. Chioma Nnadi, a journalist born in London, assumed the position on October 9, 2023, as reported by Condé Nast to The Guardian. Upon taking up the role, Nnadi, currently the editor of the Vogue US website, has been referred to as the head of editorial content instead of the editor-in-chief. This appointment also marks a significant milestone as she becomes the first Black woman to lead the prestigious fashion magazine.
In an article by Morwenna Ferrier, Chioma told The Guardian that taking on a titular role at Vogue is more than just a position but a part of a cultural conversation with hopes of bridging the gaps of various identities to be featured in the publication. The importance of Nnadi's new job title cannot be understated as she moves towards digital storytelling and maintaining an interactive relationship between Vogue and its readers while amplifying new voices in the fashion world.
Growing up in central London, Nnadi had a unique blend of cultural intersections with a Swiss-German mother and a Nigerian father. Nnadi moved to New York in 2010 to join the team at Vogue, being one of the driving forces behind the magazine's US site with her exceptional storytelling and writing skills. She also co-hosts the Vogue podcast titled The Run-Through and is an avid invitee at the annual Met Gala in New York City.
One thing about Nnadi is her style and how fashion influenced her from earlier partying and being somewhat of a fashion outlier in her coming-of-age years. She stated in 2014 that she once went through a period of only wearing navy blue as a measure of wanting to be invisible. Throughout recent years, she has carved her style as more expressive and confident. Crediting her Instagram, Nnadi embraces various bright colors, prints, patterns, minimalist basics to styling, and a more global cultural aesthetic candor.
Nnadi, in a statement during London Fashion Week in September, expressed how growing up in London has influenced her perspective on the world. The city's dynamic energy, innovative style of fashion innovators, and artistic community have all shaped her outlook on embracing her uniquely British background. She acknowledges that Vogue is primarily a fashion magazine but believes the underlying drive to shape the publication is the same, regardless of whether it focuses heavily on writing or the styling side of the industry compared to Enninful’s tenure as he began his career as a stylist.
Her newfound position begs for conversations centering on merit, what it means to love your work, and the talents you want to share with the world, whether in fashion or other creative industries. How do we, as creatives, effectively capture the spirit of the times? In the digital age, we must learn to embrace the power of active storytelling that captures stories and voices through strategic influence, empowering creators and everyday people looking to shape their unique narratives.
You can connect with Chioma Nnadi on Instagram, X (formally Twitter), and her Vogue US profile of some of her most recent work.
