Skip To...
Anna Wintour‘s Vogue step-down and calls for a replacement offer Meghan Markle her long-awaited time to shine following a misguided fallout. The Duchess of Sussex reportedly lost her chance to feature on the cover of UK Vogue in September 2022 after British Vogue editor Edward Enniful decided he could not accommodate her. According to the reports, the initial plans for their issue involved a feature of Markle’s groundbreaking appearance at the One Young World Summit in Manchester, spotlighting her charitable works with “extensive features across the magazine and its digital editions.” The idea was eventually shelved after much anticipation, with Canadian Fashion model, Linda Evangelista, snagging the September 2022 cover instead.
This reportedly resulted in a fallout between Markle and Enniful, who previously had a close friendship. Years later, it surfaced that the decision to snub Meghan Markle was not entirely up to the British Vogue editor. Last month, a source revealed that the Duchess put her foot down on a series of unrealistic demands ahead of her Vogue feature, prompting the magazine’s editor-in-chief, Anna Wintour, to step in.
Meghan Makle Slapped With Vogue Ban After Pissing Off Fashion Queen Bee
The source explained that while Enniful wanted to have his pal on the cover, Markle put everyone off with such demands as getting a global issue, appearing on the covers of the US and the UK Vogue editions, and having control over the creatives involved in the publication, including “photographer writer, final edit, photos, and cover lines.” The source added,
“Nobody gets that, not even Beyoncé.”
These outrageous demands pissed off Wintour once it came to her hearing, forcing her to write off Markle, and the story completely. After a failed attempt to pitch the idea to Wintour, Markle reportedly set up a Zoom call to have her reconsider on more relaxed terms, but the fashion Queen’s mind was already made up against having her on Vogue. Markle’s team reportedly attempted to settle for a digital cover of Vogue that month, released alongside the print edition, but the Vogue editor declined that as well. That month, Linda Evangelista and Serena Williams appeared on the covers of British Vogue and Vogue US, respectively. This fallout ultimately began her unofficial “ban” from the renowned fashion magazine.
Years later, Vogue is onto a new era as the reigning queen Anna Wintour, announced her step down, giving way for a replacement. With the global icon off the helm of affairs of American Vogue, Meghan Markle just might have another shot when the replacement steps in, starting out on a clean slate.
Is Anna Wintour Stepping Down?
The editor-in-chief, who has ruled the fashion world for the past 37 years, announced her step back from her coveted position this week. According to TMZ, the 75-year-old made the announcement during a staff meeting held on Thursday, June 26. Per the outlet, Vogue is on the lookout for a replacement who will step in as the new editor-in-chief and report to Anna Wintour.
Meanwhile, Wintour’s stepdown from Vogue does not indicate her retirement altogether. Contrariwise, she would stay on in the fashion world, as the global chief content officer at Condé Nast, as well as the global editorial director at Vogue, overseeing brands like GQ, Vanity Fair, and AD, among others.
News of her step down comes months after reports of Anna Wintour’s interest in featuring the Princess of Wales on her choice of global Vogue covers, with creative freedom akin to those Markle reportedly sought years back. Reports suggested that Wintour’s special offer to Kate Middleton was in recognition of her impact as a global fashion icon. While the 75-year-old appeared to cheekily shut down the rumors during a February visit to Buckingham Palace, sources claimed the reports left Markle fuming.
According to them, the Duchess of Sussex, who turned down a chance to feature on the cover of British Vogue’s 2019 “Forces of Change Issue,” and opted instead to guest-edit it, considered the fashion industry her forte. Hence, she deemed herself the more suitable royal deserving of the irresistible Vogue offer. While a global issue might be far-reaching, there’s no ruling out the possibility of Markle snagging her own Vogue cover sometime in the future, especially with Wintour handing in the reins after a 37-year iron-clad rule.
