Chloe Mal (39), editor of the Vogue website and co-host of the Vogue podcast, has been appointed as the successor to Anna Wintour, the editor of American Vogue known as the real model for 'The Devil Wears Prada.' This marks the beginning of a new era for Vogue after nearly 40 years.
On the 2nd (local time), Vogue announced the appointment of Chloe Mal as the head of editorial content for American Vogue. Instead of the title of 'editor-in-chief,' Mal was appointed as the 'head of editorial content,' which foreign media have evaluated as a sign of how much the magazine industry has changed compared to the time when Vogue long reigned as the 'bible' of monthly magazines.
Mal is said to have been effectively appointed by Wintour. In a statement, Wintour noted, "At this moment of change in and out of fashion, Vogue must continue to be a standard-bearer and a leader that expands boundaries," adding that "Chloe has repeatedly proven she can find the balance between the long, distinctive history of American Vogue and its future on a new front line."
Mal, the daughter of American actress Candice Bergen and French filmmaker Louis Malle, joined Vogue in 2011 after graduating from Brown University. She has revealed that she mainly wrote articles about "fun and light-hearted things" such as weddings and parties. Recently, she interviewed Lauren Sanchez, a broadcaster who gained attention for marrying Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos, in Vogue's June issue.
Mal has served as a contributing editor for Vogue since 2016, serving as a spokesperson in 2022 and as the editor of the Vogue website in 2023. Notably, as the editor of the website, she introduced the dog-themed magazine Dogue and is currently co-hosting Vogue's only podcast, "The Run-Through," with Chioma Nnadi, the head of editorial content for British Vogue.
Mal is expected to take on a different role from Wintour, who led the global fashion world as editor of Vogue. The New York Times (NYT) mentioned that Mal worked at the New York Observer, an American weekly magazine, after graduating from college and contributed to various media such as Times, stating, "She possesses a stronger identity as a journalist rather than as an authority in fashion or the visual field."
She will oversee the print and digital branches of American Vogue, but will report to Wintour, who remains the global Chief Content Officer (CCO). Wintour serves as the chief content officer of Vogue and oversees 28 international editions worldwide. On that day, Wintour expressed to employees that she sees herself as "Mal's mentor and student."
According to Vogue, Mal expressed her feelings, stating, "Fashion and media are all changing at a dazzling pace, and the fact that I am at the center of it all is incredibly thrilling and awe-inspiring," adding, "I feel very fortunate to have Anna, who is still with me as a mentor at the end of the hallway."