It’s hard to believe a magazine that’s grown so much within the last few years is just now turning 18, and yet here we are! Teen Vogue celebrated its 18th birthday in true coming of age fashion on the Standard East Village’s rooftop terrace with the New York City skyline as the backdrop.
Founded in 2003 by Amy Astley with an emphasis on teen fashion and lifestyle, the publication evolved into a media brand focused on active change. Teen Vogue, at 18, is now a one-stop-shop for everything teenagers care about.
“Young people understand more than anyone that it’s possible to care about fashion, beauty, politics, the climate, and culture all at once, and understand how racial and social justice and equity affects every single one of these industries,” Teen Vogue editor-in-chief Versha Sharma said at the event. “Teen Vogue has survived and succeeded where most other teen magazines have not because of its focus on issues that matter and its ability to evolve and grow editorially and creatively.”
Anna Wintour, Vogue editor-in-chief and Global Chief Content Officer for Condé Nast, attended the celebratory event and even joked about how in 2003, she had no idea what Teen Vogue would become — but now looking at all that's been accomplished, she’s definitely a “proud parent.”
“Technically that makes Teen Vogue an adult now, in some ways, at least,” Wintour says. “Yet as Versha and her brilliant team show every single day, just as her predecessors did, age is no impediment to voice, opinion or presence.”
Guests like artist Chlöe Bailey and South Korean boyband P1Harmony stole the show with their dance moves at the birthday party, DJ'd by Aku Orraca-Tetteh. Guests spent the night connecting with old and new friends, all while reminiscing on Teen Vogue’s origins.
Other guests in attendance included Stranger Things star Gaten Matarazzo, On My Block’s Sierra Capri, Designer Prabal Gurung, Gossip Girl’s Yin Chang and Johnathan Fernandez, The Baby-Sitters' Club Shay Rudolph, In The Heights' Gregory Diaz IV, and so many other talented people within the fashion and entertainment space.
With so many impactful moments within Teen Vogue’s life thus far, we can only imagine the life-changing moments to come in the next 18 years.
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