Harper's Bazaar names 1st Black Editor in Chief: Samira Nasr
Samira Nasr, the proud daughter of a Lebanese father and Trinidadian mother is the next editor in chief of Harper’s Bazaar magazine, overseeing both print and digital as of July 6. She succeeds Glenda Bailey, who stepped down from the Hearst title in January after 19 years in the role.
Who is Samira Nasr?
Originally from Montreal, Nasr is currently the executive fashion director at Vanity Fair and has spent her decades-long career as a stylist and editor working in and around fashion magazines in New York.
Nasr’s appointment also marks the first time a black editor will lead Harper’s Bazaar, the oldest continuously published fashion magazine in the country, a milestone in an industry where there is little if any diversity in the highest levels of leadership.
As Black Lives Matter protests grew in number across the US and Europe in recent days, current and former media employees who are minorities have taken to social media to share experiences of discrimination and inequality in the workplace, highlighting the lack of diverse editors and executives at Refinery29, Paper magazine, Condé Nast and Hearst, among others.
In her recent role at Vanity Fair under Editor-in-Chief Radhika Jones, Nasr has been part of a rebirth of that title as one that highlights a much more diverse slate of contributors than is typically seen in mainstream magazines.
"As the proud daughter of a Lebanese father and Trinidadian mother, my world view is expansive and is anchored in the belief that representation matters," said Nasr in a video announcing her appointment. "My lens by nature is colourful and so it is important to me to begin a new chapter in Bazaar’s history by shining a light on all individuals who I believe are the inspiring voices of our time. I will work to give all voices a platform to tell stories that would never have been told."
I will work to give all voices a platform to tell stories that would never have been told.
Nasr thanked the Black Lives Matter protestors and said she hopes "we can join forces to amplify the message of equality."
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