Chloe Malle, the newly minted U.S. editorial director of Vogue, has openly embraced her links to nepotism. On Tuesday, it was officially announced that Anna Wintour, who relinquished her esteemed position as editor-in-chief in June, had appointed Malle to head the editorial content for the American edition of Vogue. Malle first joined Vogue in 2011 as a social editor and was later named the editor of Vogue.com in 2023.
In an interview with The New York Times tied to her new role announcement on Tuesday, Malle proudly declared herself a "nepo baby," acknowledging the privileged upbringing fueled by her parents' Oscar-nominated careers in the entertainment industry. "It's undeniable that I have reaped the full benefits of the privilege I was raised in," she conceded. "To claim otherwise would be delusional. However, it has always spurred me to work even harder. For much of my life, I've aimed to prove that I'm more than just Candice Bergen's daughter or someone who hailed from Beverly Hills."
Her mother, Candice Bergen, is an Oscar-nominated actress renowned for her roles in projects such as Murphy Brown, Miss Congeniality, Bride Wars, and Boston Legal. She garnered her Oscar nomination in 1980 for Best Supporting Actress for her performance in Starting Over. Malle's father, Louis Malle, is a director and screenwriter whose work has also been acclaimed by the Academy, earning him three nominations, including one for Best Director in 1982 for Atlantic City.
In the profile, Malle revealed her intentions as the new head of editorial content for Vogue U.S.: to nurture "a more intimate, streamlined, and vibrant audience" by offering "original, witty, irreverent, and joyful perspectives on various topics."
Wintour isn't entirely departing from the publication; she will retain her role as global editorial director for Vogue and continue serving as chief content officer for Condé Nast. Addressing the pressure of stepping into her predecessor's shoes, Malle stated, "The truth is, no one can replace Anna." She added that she's "delighted she's just down the hall," as Wintour continues her tenure at Vogue and the broader Condé Nast. "I understand that some candidates for this job were intimidated by the idea of Anna being nearby," she said. "But I'm thrilled she's down the hall with her Clarice Cliff pottery."
In a statement regarding Malle's appointment, Wintour said, "Amidst change, both within fashion and beyond, Vogue must remain both a beacon of tradition and a pioneer pushing boundaries. Chloe has repeatedly demonstrated her ability to strike a balance between Vogue's rich history and its future at the forefront of innovation. I'm thrilled to continue working with her, as both her mentor and her student, as she guides us and our audience into uncharted territories."
