Elaine Welteroth’s book More Than Enough was published in 2019 but I discovered it (and her) recently as part of my quest to read more widely about the facets of identity I wrote about in my book, and to learn from women with different backgrounds and perspectives than my own.
First off, I must confess that I have never picked up a copy of Teen Vogue, and it was not on my radar at all when I was a teenager. As a New Zealander my go to’s were Girlfriend and Dolly magazines - I even got my picture in Girlfriend once when I was at the very front of the audience for Smokefree Rockquest.
No, I was much older than a teenager when Teen Vogue first came to my attention, and I remember it clearly because it was during the pandemic.
Teen Vogue found a whole new audience during this time, far beyond its appeal as a fashion magazine. Its regular online articles and Facebook posts leaned into social justice and political commentary on public health inequities, racial disparities in COVID outcomes, and critiques of capitalism and government inaction. Through a Gen Z lens, Teen Vogue gave readers not only beauty tips for Zoom life but also sharp commentary on Medicare for All, economic injustice, and voter mobilization.
What set Teen Vogue apart was how naturally it linked the pandemic to broader systems of inequality. It wasn’t just reporting on COVID; it was contextualising it within the lived realities of young people - especially marginalised ones - and encouraging political awareness and action. While some critics dismissed its activist tone, others praised its ability to meet teens and young adults where they were: online, anxious, angry, and hungry for something more honest than mainstream news was offering.
I also really really like their articles like this one on the anatomy of the penis that share factual information that so many of our teenagers cannot get from their parents or school. There was stuff in here that even I didn’t know! I sent it to my daughter and she was like, ew, but read the whole thing.
This was all the context I had when I started reading, although by the end of the book I learned that while Elaine Welteroth was a big part of the magazine’s activist approach, she had actually moved on before covid hit.
This book was exactly what I wanted: an insight into the life and identity of someone completely different than me. Although we did have something in common as well. I was delighted that Welteroth copped to having made her “bad” school choice because of a boy. She could have created a whole narrative around why she chose that school, but she was honest and I appreciate that. I made a lot of life choices because of boys I didn’t love myself enough between the ages of 15 and 23 yesterday that I wouldn’t necessarily stand behind now; it’s nice to see a successful woman acknowledging that there were some major bumps along the road.
Welteroth introduced me to the concept of “F.O.D.”
Shonda Rhimes first talked publicly about being a “First. Only. Different.” in her 2014 book Year of Yes.
In the book, she reflects on how being the first Black woman (or the only woman, or the only person of color) in many professional spaces shaped her identity and experience in Hollywood. The F.O.D. concept captures the feeling of being hyper-visible, expected to represent an entire group, and often under extra scrutiny.
"No matter how much you try to blend in, your race walks into every room before you do." - Elaine Welteroth
Success = opportunities + talent
So many rich white people get incredible opportunities and never make anything of them. And so many people have incredible talent but never get the opportunity to shine where it counts.
Elaine Welteroth came from a very ordinary background, with a couple of good connections. But damn, the girl knew what to do when it counted!
As soon as I heard everyone start shouting, "Talib, Talib!!" I cut through the crowd like a hot knife through butter. I walked right up to my subject, introduced myself, and calmly, without skipping a beat, whipped my head around to my crew and said, "Let's go." Lights. Camera. Action. I asked my questions in a conversational manner, as if the cameras weren't there, and as we closed out, Talib shook my hand and said, "Good to meet you."
AS AN INTERN. 19 YEARS OLD.
The book ends with Welteroth leaving Conde Nast in 2018, but since then she has built an incredible career spanning authorship, media, and advocacy. She became a judge and producer on Project Runway, and briefly co-hosted The Talk on CBS. She created a MasterClass called Designing Your Career, sharing her insights on purpose-driven work and navigating imposter syndrome. Through her columns in The Washington Post and contributions to Time and The New York Times, she’s continued using storytelling to empower young professionals, especially women of colour.
Welteroth now has two sons, born in 2022 and 2024, so is definitely in the thick of it right now. I guarantee she is one to watch and over the next few years is going to have an incredible impact.
Do you love fashion? Was Elaine Welteroth on your radar before now?