Who Is Anna Wintour? Vogue US Editor-In-Chief Steps Down After 37-Year Legacy

Anna Wintour is stepping down as American Vogue's editor-in-chief after 37 years, signalling the end of an iconic era. Wintour broke the news to her colleagues on June 26. While she is seeking a successor to head the magazine, she will continue to hold critical positions at Vogue and its parent company, Condé Nast. The 75-year-old will remain Vogue’s global editorial director and Condé Nast’s global chief content officer.

Who is Anna Wintour?

Anna Wintour was born in 1949 in London to renowned journalist Charles Wintour and Eleanor Trego Baker. Growing up, she was known to be a 'rebellious' child who would often get in trouble for breaking the dress code. She grew up reading magazines like Seventeen. This independent spirit foreshadowed her future in fashion editorial.

Wintour, recognised by her signature bob haircut and dark sunglasses, first started working in fashion retail. She then shifted to editorial, working at magazines like Oz and Harper's & Queen. In 1975, she moved to New York City and started working as a junior fashion editor at Harper's Bazaar.

After establishing herself as an audacious, influential figure at various lifestyle magazines, Wintour attained her first editorship, taking over Vogue UK. Her uncompromising leadership and strict standards earned her the nickname 'Nuclear Wintour.' In 1987, she moved back to New York, and Condé Nast hired her as the editor of US Vogue.

Vogue US and Beyond

From unprecedented cover shoots to staff replacements, Wintour made several sweeping changes within days of editorship. Her first issue, published in November 1988, sported Israeli model Michaela Bercu on the cover. She posed outdoors in a pair of stonewashed jeans and a sweater, which was the first time that Vogue cover had such a casual look.

“I just wanted to make the look of the magazine more relaxed, the way I see women in the street,” Wintour told WWD. 

This became the start of a legacy, marked by telling influential stories, taking risks, and redefining editorial rules. Wintour was known to be fearless, blending fashion with political commentary and using the magazine as a platform for larger social conversations. Her choices shaped the global lifestyle storytelling and set new industry standards.

Wintour once said that she wants to redefine how average lifestyle magazine reader is seen. "There's a new kind of woman out there", she told the Evening Standard. "She's interested in business and money. She doesn't have time to shop anymore. She wants to know what and why and where and how.".

Wintour is also the co-chair of the coveted fashion event, the Met Gala, which raised a record-breaking $31 million in 2025 for the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Costume Institute. She has also been well-known for supporting young fashion talent, mentoring them and helping them with financial partnerships through the Vogue Fashion Fund.

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A few years ago, Condé Nast changed its editorial structure, bringing together the editorial teams around the world for the first time. Wintour became Condé Nast’s chief content officer in 2020. She oversees almost all their brands globally, including Wired, Vanity Fair, GQ, AD, Traveller, Glamour, Bon Appétit, Tatler, World of Interiors, Allure and more.