Sydney-based stylist Megha Kapoor has been recently appointed the new editor of Vogue India. Vogue global editorial director Anna Wintour’s surprising selection of Kapoor comes on the heels of Australian Margaret Zhang’s promotion to editor of Vogue China in February.
Australian fashion icons are further penetrating the worldwide ranks of Vogue. She is presently based in Sydney, but will be relocating to India in the next months. Vogue India boasts a readership of approx. 105,000, plus 7 million social media followers.
As reported by the SHM, Kapoor says,
“Margaret [Zhang] called me out of the blue and mentioned that she had been talking about me to Anna,” Kapoor, 35, said. “It all felt super random.”
Kapoor started her new role on Monday.
“I am effectively editor but the official title is Content Lead. The way that Condé Nast work globally is changing and titles will be working more closely together.”
Prior to the appointment, Kapoor created and served as the editor and creative director of Inprint magazine, and before that, she was the fashion editor at Oyster Magazine. Kapoor is joining the growing trend of Australians occupying key jobs in fashion media. Along with Zhang, who made her debut in Vogue China‘s September issue, Australian-born Laura Brown has been the editor-in-chief of InStyle’s US edition since 2016. Melburnian Adam Baidawi also left his position as editor of GQ Middle East in January after two and a half years, to become the men’s lifestyle brand’s deputy global editorial director.
Subcontinental Beauty
Born in Punjab, India, Kapoor’s family relocated to New Zealand when she was two years old. Later, she moved to Melbourne to study law at Melbourne University, before scoring an internship at Vogue India. She tells SMH,
“I had been unwell, had a career crisis and was all set to start at a top-tier law firm in Melbourne. Instead, I called up the editor of Vogue India and ended up working there as a Condé Nast cadet for something like $100 a month.”
Now, Kapoor succeeds her old employer Priya Tanna, who founded Mumbai-based Vogue India in 2007. Tanna quit in May, after Wintour’s appointment to a global editorial role. Mitsuko Watanabe, the editor-in-chief of Vogue Japan, also withdrew the same month after 13 years in the position.
Kapoor tells the SMH,
“What I am really excited about is the prospect to be a champion and foster the diverse, rich and talented wealth of talent emerging from India,” Kapoor said. “I want to showcase the beauty of the entire subcontinent with Sri Lanka, Nepal and the 36 million Indians who currently don’t live in India and have a similar experience to mine.”
Major Staffing Changes
Once Kapoor had returned to Australia, she worked with former Vogue Australia editor Kirstie Clements. Edwina McCann took over as editor in 2012 and amidst major staffing changes, Kapoor stepped down. In 2015, she established the highly influential Inprint Magazine.
Kapoor will manage strategy and lead Vogue India’s editorial team, working closely with Vogue‘s global editorial director Anna Wintour and Leslie Sun, director of Vogue APAC and editor-in-chief of Vogue Taiwan. She replaces Priya Tanna, the publication’s long-time editor-in-chief, who left in May after leading it since its inception in 2007.
Clements explains to SMH,
“When she started Inprint, Megha was already way ahead of the curve, challenging the system and tackling diversity and inclusivity.”
“Always Had a Vision”
Now, Kapoor will manage strategy and lead Vogue India‘s editorial team – working closely with Vogue’s global editorial director Anna Wintour and Leslie Sun, director of Vogue APAC and editor-in-chief of Vogue Taiwan. She replaces Priya Tanna, the publication’s long-time editor-in-chief, who left in May after leading it since its inception in 2007.
“I think it’s a superlative appointment,” Clements said. “She always had a vision. She would look at things and see how they could be done better. I have taken an interest in her career since she left Vogue.”
Kapoor will begin working from Sydney before relocating to Mumbai. She has indicated a change away from Vogue India‘s celebrity focus in order to modernise the publication but will be influenced by her experiences in Australian media. She tells the SMH,
“It’s taught me everything I know,” she said. “It’s a place where you can do anything. You can wear so many hats. You can really achieve something great with the right vision mindset and work ethic. It’s an incredible place to work in the industry if you’re doing it for the right reasons. The great thing is that we live in a global community and the world is watching.”
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