Chioma Nnadi has taken over as the new editor of British Vogue and will replace Edward Enninfulthe outgoing editor-in-chief.
Chioma, 44, a New York resident and currently editor of the US edition’s website, will move to London and has the title of ‘head of editorial content’ for the British magazine.
Chioma, who was previously praised for Anna Wintour Because of her ‘impeccable’ reputation, she will be the first black woman to edit the fashion magazine.
The Londoner, who has been described by his colleagues as discreet, nuanced and even “shy”, manages to be both a style icon and an identifiable figure.
Here FEMAIL delves into the glamorous life of the new director of British Vogue…
Chioma Nnadi (pictured) has taken over as the new editor-in-chief of British Vogue, replacing Edward Enninful, the outgoing editor-in-chief.
Chioma is known as Vogue’s “nicest person.” Ahead of the announcement, a source told The Times: “Chioma is a great choice.” She is serious and intelligent and really knows what she is doing. She doesn’t suffer fools.
“Chioma is not the scary fashion editor of yesteryear,” said another Condé Nast insider.
‘She is quite shy in individual contact and very calm. She is one of those people who pauses before answering a question.
While a fashion PR veteran said: “Unofficially, (Nnadi) is the nicest person I’ve ever dealt with at Vogue.”
Her mestizo and multicultural origin makes her stand out in the world of fashion, she has said.
Speaking at the Council of Fashion Designers of America in 2018, she stated, “Too often I look around me.” . . fashion week and I’m one of the few black and brown faces. Black creatives are underrepresented at all levels. . . “Racism is a systemic problem.”
Londoner Chioma, 44, living in New York and currently editor of the US edition’s website, will move to London and have the title of ‘head of editorial content’ for the British magazine.
Her mestizo and multicultural origin makes her stand out in the world of fashion.
Nnadi grew up in central London, the daughter of her mother, a Swiss-German nurse, and her Nigerian father who came to the UK to study in the 1960s.
He began his career in the features section of the Evening Standard magazine.
She moved to New York in 2010 to write for independent style magazine Trace before covering fashion and its links to music for Fader.
Nnadi, who is rumored to be single and living with a flatmate in New York, but is said to be happy to move to London to be closer to her family.
Chioma credits her father for igniting her passion for fashion and says she still wears his vintage clothes.
She recently wrote: ‘As a child, I only remember my father wearing suits, although he wore them without a tie when he wasn’t working his government job on the weekends.
‘His suits and button-down shirts still occupied the largest closet in our modest three-bedroom apartment, even when there were eight or nine of us living there: cousins, aunts, uncles and other relatives from Nigeria.
“My father, who never throws anything away, kept his clothes for years and years, even when they were in tatters, something I know still makes my mother angry.
“However, as a teenager it was a blessing for me to discover this Narnia of vintage men’s fashion in my own home: weather-beaten leather jackets and frayed indigo-dyed dashikis that I still wear to this day.
“While my mother’s fantastic ’60s minidresses were always too short in the legs or too generous in the bust, her slim-fit menswear fit me like a glove.”
Nnadi grew up in central London, the daughter of her mother, a Swiss-German nurse, and her Nigerian father who came to the UK to study in the 1960s.
Ndadi says her father inspired her love of fashion and she still wears some of his old items that she refused to throw away.
She started as a fashion news editor in 2010, worked her way up and in 2014 was named fashion news director.
She’s been behind some of Vogue’s biggest covers, including Rihanna, Cara Delevingne and Erykah Badu.
Nnadi also co-hosts Vogue’s popular podcast, The Run-Through. Additionally, he has spearheaded online coverage of major events, including the Met Gala.
On September 18, 2023, it was announced that Nandi had been named the new head of editorial content to lead British Vogue.
The decision comes after months of speculation over who would replace Edward Enninful, 51, who made history when he was named Vogue’s first black editor-in-chief in 2017.
Enninful described Nnadi as a “brilliant and unique talent with a real vision” in a statement.
Chioma, photographed in New York last year, is being considered to replace Edward Enninful at the helm of British Vogue.
Edwards Enninful with Jennifer Lopez and Anna Wintour at the Coach Runway Show in New York in 2023
Anna Wintour said in a statement: “Chioma is beloved among her Vogue colleagues and is an editor and writer with an impeccable reputation, both here and in the wider fashion industry.”
“I can’t think of a person more worthy of following in her footsteps than Chioma, who has proven herself adept at speaking to our digital audience and has found ways to extend Vogue’s reach, authority and influence across all of our platforms.
“He is passionate about fashion, music and culture, and I couldn’t be happier to have him leading our editorial and creative teams in London.”
Wintour described Nnadi as a “beloved” colleague who will focus on “music and culture” as well as fashion, adding that the new editor is “taking Vogue into the future.”
Nnadi said: “I am beyond excited and honored to have been named head of editorial content at British Vogue. As someone who was born and raised in London, the energy of the city – its avant-garde style and creative scene – has shaped the way I see the world.
“Now, more than ever, feels like a time to look beyond borders while celebrating the wide scope of what it means to be British. “I look forward to engaging with a loyal and inspired digital community that is energized by our access, point of view and storytelling.”