Margaret Zhang has been announced as the new editor-in-chief of Vogue China and at 27 is the youngest EIC at Vogue. Queen!
Zhang shared the exciting news with her 1.1 million Instagram followers on Thursday. It’s HUGE news for this super talented Aussie, who first began blogging at the age of 16. Wow! At 16 I was competing in Up&Go drinking competitions. I truly believe that is the reason I am lactose intolerant.
The new editor-in-chief has never edited a magazine before, but is a valuable asset with her fashion consultancy work, acting as a bridge between international brands and the ever-expanding Chinese market. Zhang will be taking over from Angelica Cheung, who held the role for 16 years.
Anna Wintour the current editor-in-chief of Vogue and global chief content officer and media company Condé Nast said: “I am so delighted that Margaret is our new editor-in-chief of Vogue China. Her international experience, exceptional multi-platform digital expertise and wide-ranging interests are the perfect combination to lead Vogue China into the future.”
Wintour has been the head-honcho of Vogue since 1988, and some have questioned whether that’s little bit too long. As with anyone who has been in power for years, Wintour certainly has her blind spots.
Last year, the media mogul came under fire for the accusations made against Condé Nast for racial discrimination. This led to two senior editors leaving due to racial insensitivity. One was Bon Appétit’s Adam Rapoport who dressed in brown face, and The New York Times’ James Bennet who published an opinion piece calling for the use of military force against civilian protesters (shortly after BLM protests surged).
Margaret Zhang is undeniably a breath of fresh air in an industry that is notorious for its exclusivity, which often leaves minorities feeling ignored and discriminated against.
The digital think-tank wants to focus on two main areas of concern and that’s sustainability and diversity.
“It’s not about having a green issue here or a sustainability conversation there. It’s about how you practise those principles, and it’s the same thing with diversity,” Zhang said.
“I think everyone who appears in Vogue China should be someone people can look up to in a really substantive way and who are driving innovation, regardless of what industry they’re in.”
