Teen Vogue is celebrating its 18th Birthday! Take a look back with us at some of our most iconic, memorable, and inspirational moments over the years.
When Teen Vogue launched, some of today's cover stars weren't even born yet. The brand started during a time when there was a void in fashion magazines specifically dedicated to young people who deeply cared about the world around them.
“Teen Vogue was really quite radical when it launched in early spring 2003,” Amy Astley, Teen Vogue's first editor-in-chief shares with us. “My intention was to create a girl-centric universe. Most other publications for young women at that time focussed on attracting boys — how to manage your appearance and behavior to appeal to males. Guys were the end goal!”
Astley and her team set out to create a publication that understood the important thoughts, dreams, and goals of young women. “[We] purposefully waved good-bye to all that. I wanted to explore and celebrate how girls expressed their own spirit and creativity through their style. Teen Vogue was keenly focused on supporting females in their own physical and mental health, in their ambitions and goals for their own futures, and in their personal journey to fulfillment." Adding, "We did not link any of that to landing a boyfriend, nor did we assume they even wanted one! I think it was refreshing and affirming.”
Things have changed quite a bit since the early aughts. Internet access has globalized the world, bringing a diverse range of lived experiences to the forefront. Issues like schools shootings, abortion, critical race theory, and voting are at the forefront of young people's minds. There are also a lot fewer print magazines on newsstands — including Teen Vogue that went digital in 2018. But, that hasn't negated the importance of engaging storytelling and diverse perspectives.
“We intentionally created an inclusive brand, both the creative content and the staff,” Astley says. "That was important to me. I wanted all young women to feel represented and welcome."
As the world evolved, so did we. Over the years Teen Vogue has worked with iconic photographers like Herb Ritts, Hedi Slimane, Camila Flaquez, Shaniqwa Jarvis, Micaiah Carter, Tyler Mitchell and so many more. We've also seen the styling work of people like Jason Bolden, Zerina Akers, and Shiona Turini (who worked on staff!) in our editorials.
Let's take a look back at some of Teen Vogue editors' best cover picks through the years.
The Icons
Early on in Beyoncé's solo career and when Rihanna debuted her first album, Teen Vogue was there to capture their impact in music. Almost twenty years later and both artists are certifiable icons in music and culture.
Teen Dreams
Mary-Kate and Ashley Olson were just starting their fashion careers at the tops of the 2000s when they were on the cover of Teen Vogue. Now, the sisters' label The Row is extremely successful. Also hugely famous at the time were Lindsay Lohan that was a box-office-hit maker and Ciara who was the reigning princess of hip hop at the time.
Cult-Like Film/TV Actors
Glee, Twilight, and Gossip Girl were three of the most-watched productions coming out of Hollywood during the mid-2000s. Teens, in particular, related to the drama and dreams of characters played by the actors who were regularly featured on Teen Vogue's covers.
Reality Famous
Reality television had been around for a decade before Teen Vogue launched and its impact was front and center on the magazine's covers. Whitney Port and Lauren Conrad iconically worked at Teen Vogue for their MTV show The Hills, while Kylie and Kendall Jenner got to flex their modeling skills while starring on Keeping Up with the Kardashians.
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Disney Stars
Before Demi, Selena, Miley, and Zendaya were one-name famous they were Disney stars who our readers loved. Now, they've all taken different career paths but they're still united in their Teen Vogue cover fame — among many other ways they've crossed paths.
Model Behavior
Like our namesake publication, Vogue, Teen Vogue featured the hottest new models on the scene. Over the years we've seen these talented people like Jourdan Dunn and Gigi Hadid turn into household names.
Global Boy Bands
We gave One Direction one of their first covers, photographed TXT in Seoul, and gave fans what they always wanted with a CNCO cover. Forget the teeny-boppers boy bands covers of the past! Teen Vogue featured global boy bands in serious style.
The Athletes
Some of the most culturally relevant and amazing people are athletes, and Teen Vogue didn't miss a beat in covering their stories. Simone Biles, Serena Williams, and Coco Gauff all inspired us with their cover stories.
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Rap Royals
We loved talking style with Nicki Minaj as she blossomed into a global superstar. The same went for Lil Nas X, Tierra Whack, and Saweetie whose lyrical talents made them cover-worthy.
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Social Media Darlings
Like we said before, the internet has made the world a global playground. Through social media, we've fallen in love with Teen Vogue cover stars like Elsa Majimbo from Kenya and Bretman Rock from Hawai'i by way of the Phillippines.
Politicians
Teen Vogue has evolved over the years to be for all young people, as we understand the importance of visibility and gender fluidity. We also understand that everything is political — especially the experience of being a teenager in today's world. In recent years we've had political forces like Rep. Ilhan Omar, Cori Bush, and Marie Newman on our covers to discuss important issues in our country.
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