Today, Eva Chen, at 33 years old, is the youngest Editor-In-Chief of an American fashion magazine. Eva grew up in Manhattan and later attended John Hopkins University as a Pre-Med major. During her junior year, Eva forever changed her professional path by studying journalism, an interest that stemmed from an internship at Harpers Bazar. After graduating John Hopkins with a degree in Journalism, Eva worked at a law firm but soon found herself working for a fashion magazine.
She began working for Lucky magazine as a Credits Writer, but then ventured to Elle and eventually Teen Vogue, where she remained for seven years as a Beauty Editor. After moving to Los Angeles with her husband, Eva took up numerous writing jobs, which included writing for The Wall Street Journal and a column in Vogue China. In April 2013, Anna Wintour (as the newly appointed artistic director of Conde Nast) hired Eva Chen to consult on Lucky magazine. On June 18, 2013 it was announced that Ava would be the new Editor-In-Chief of Lucky magazine, replacing Brandon Holley (who had been appointed in 2010).
Eva’s debut issue as Editor-In-Chief was the September issue, with actress Blake Lively gracing the cover. What makes Eva’s promotion so newsworthy is the fact that not only is she the first American fashion magazine Editor-In-Chief of Asian descent, but she is also the first Editor-In-Chief of our generation.
What sets her apart from any other editor is her use of social media. She connects with the readers of Lucky on a personal level. Eva’s understanding of all things technical connects her to our generation, one that has grown dependent on social media. Though Eva is revolutionizing the way the American magazine is presented, only time will tell if her more tech-savvy approach is a step forward in the way we read our magazines, or a hindrance to the institution itself.