4 Things I Learned from Elaine Welteroth
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By the time you open this, I'll be in Idyllwild as part of a writing retreat. I'm honestly still pinching myself about this and will have lots to share when I get back.
In the meantime, I had the pleasure of seeing Elaine Welteroth — journalist, "Project Runway" judge, general badass — at the California African American Museum for a special talk. As part of her book tour for "More than Enough: Claiming Space for Who You Are (No Matter What They Say), she stopped by the museum to share some insights on her journey. Formerly the editor-in-chief at Teen Vogue, she was the youngest EIC at Conde Nast EVER and only the SECOND Black EIC. The book is a reflection of her path to get there.
I wanted to share some of the tidbits that resonated with me the most from that night:
Life's transitions are hard but they're also invitations for us to be our biggest, most expansive selves — if we accept the invitation.
This one is so hard to accept in the moment. I go back and forth between loving change and then getting anxious about it. But I loved her honesty when it came to a big step she took in her career. She had an internship lined up at Essence and decided to take a job at Ebony instead — where things got tough. She learned to wear tons of different hats and that helped her start to set up a career she loved. Sometimes we just have to walk through the door that opens, yknow?
On writing a memoir at a young age: "We need it right now, not when we're 50."
I really liked this point because I think there are always arguments for each side about whether you should write a memoir at a young age (say, in your thirties). Welteroth's journey and story are so pertinent to millennial and Gen Z people today that it only makes sense she would feel the need to write it now — not decades later.
And on anyone that might criticize her for writing a memoir as a young woman geared toward other women/non-binary people in marginalized groups: "Don't worry, I didn't write it for you."
Enough said.
On changing things at Teen Vogue: "There was no other option going into that job than to throw out the formulas and shake up the status quo."
Welteroth entered a world that centered and praised a certain beauty ideal — one that rarely included women of color. She changed that and made Teen Vogue a much more diverse and politically-minded site. This was the most inspiring tidbit and it can be hard to take on but I think there are small ways that we can try and infuse our daily tasks with our own lived experiences. Of course, that's easier in a leadership role, but it was fascinating to hear her talk about it.
What are your thoughts on the points she made?
Hit that reply button.
xoxo,
Your favorite small but feisty writer
Eva
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"There are years that ask questions and years that answer."
— Zora Neale Hurston
