Dame Anna Wintour’s 37-year reign has come to an end. The former Editor-in-Chief of American Vogue has passed the title of Head of Editorial Content to the Editor of Vogue’s website and co-host of The Run-Through with Vogue podcast, Chloé Françoise Malle.
Although Malle has always been a writer for different newspapers and magazines, her nepotistic background has stirred controversy; some question whether she is worthy of the editor title. However, it does not matter what one’s background is, as long as one has the creativity and the passion for their work.
Malle, daughter of actress Candice Bergen and French director Louis Malle, has led a journalistic life since her time at Brown University, where she wrote for The Brown Daily Herald. After receiving her B.A. in Literary Arts and Comparative Literature, she worked for the New York Observer, mostly covering real estate. Later on, she contributed to the style section at The New York Times and later contributions for Vogue.
After her contributions to Vogue, she was appointed to the role of Social Editor in 2011, where she led wedding and social coverage, also contributing to a wide range of topics — including fashion, politics, homes and gardens, beauty and health. Her contributions to Vogue led to her becoming Editor of Vogue.com in 2023, where she helped the page grow in numbers and views by implementing coverage of major events, such as the Met Gala and Vogue World.
Although Malle’s experience in the fashion world has been notorious, internauts are skeptical of Wintour’s choice of Malle for Head of Editorial Content. Many state that her connections and background have heavily impacted her success in obtaining her new role.
Malle has admitted she is a “proud nepo baby” in an interview with The New York Times.
“There is no question that I have 100 percent benefited from the privilege I grew up in. It’s delusional to say otherwise,” Malle stated.
Malle’s connections and background impacted her career, helping her obtain roles in major publishing houses, but her effort and visionary ideas for Vogue prompted Wintour to choose Malle as her successor.
Although Malle’s first works as Head of Editorial Content have seemed odd — integrating AI Models and featuring Lauren Sanchez’s wedding on the front cover — her ideas and goals for Vogue have pleasantly surprised and thrilled the public. Her goal of “original, witty, irreverent, joyful points of view” on a variety of platforms, innovating on a more modern and up-to-date version of Vogue, has filled people with anticipation.
Vogue’s new leadership might have shown a slow start, but Malle’s passion and expertise for the field will not disappoint. After all, the pursuit of lasting excellence is not to be rushed.
