Why Anna Wintour Is Queen And A Role Model For Millennial Women

The fashion industry is a world of its own.

A world of patent leather trims and peter pan collars, topped off by SJP’s awe-inspiring shoe collection. Of course, every world has a ruler, and the god-like Anna Wintour is the undeniable elected dictator of the fashion industry, with a voice so strong it’s even been mocked by the ever-so-classy Meryl Streep.

Anna Wintour is not just the editor-in-chief of Vogue, nor just the artistic director of Conde Nast; she is an untouchable, Chanel-clad goddess, whose feet every fashionista would kill to kneel at.

For those who question this substantial truth or have never even heard of Ms. Wintour before this article, let it be known that she is one of the most impactful individuals in the country -- not just because she deducts a $2 million salary from our economy on a yearly basis, but because her freshly manicured hand and perfect bob has made iconic designers whom they are today.

Not to mention, Wintour transformed the landscape of fashion journalism and officiated the marriage between fashion and politics.

Anna Wintour is queen.

For starters, this visionary transformed the magazine industry into what we know it as today. Imagine it’s 1988 and the magazine stands are filled with a repetitive trend of covers featuring up close and personal headshots of perfectly coiffed models without a trace of human imperfection. Enter Wintour.

The debut of her very first Vogue cover featured a fresh-faced 19-year-old girl giggling as she enjoyed a stroll along the beach in a comfortable combination of a $10,000 jeweled Christian Lacroix jacket and Guess jeans. This bold advance brought about a once unfathomable mixture of high-end and low-end fashion.

In addition, before Wintour took control, celebrities and socialites were never even thought of to entice readers to select a specific magazine from the slew of publications. Yet, today, never will you see a nameless face embellish the cover of a major publication, all thanks to Wintour.

Not only did she transform the image of modern magazines, she now controls every theme, of every issue, of every Conde Nast magazine -- over 20 magazines -- including: Vogue, W, Glamour, Allure, Self, Teen Vogue and GQ.

Therefore, if you’ve flipped a cover or read a word of a magazine in the past month, you’ve been exposed to Wintour's artistry. Now, that’s power of the press.

Aside from her mastery of manipulating the aesthetic of the written word alongside today’s masterpieces, she initiated a landmark relationship: the marriage of fashion and politics.

Since 1992, Wintour has played a role in American politics, from promoting powerful first ladies like Hillary Clinton (four covers) and Laura Bush (two covers) in Vogue, to hosting fundraiser benefits at the White House (three in total).

In addition to making a name for these powerful females in the fashion world, she’s made a name for herself among the DC crowd, landing a spot on the list of people who raised $100,000 to $200,000 for Obama’s campaign in July 2008. There was even talk of her leaving the world of magazines (gasp) to work for the Obama administration.

As we can see, that didn’t happen, but she did become an ambassador to France and earned a spot on the President's Committee on the Arts and Humanities, whose task is to advise the president himself on how to expand the role of arts in society.

Still, her most notable attribute as queen is in herself: her brand. With her signature bob, perfectly groomed since she was 14 years old, statement necklace, nude slingback sandals and affinity for Chanel, Wintour has mastered the science of branding oneself -- a necessary component of every world-changing individual.

Her taste is law. Her mere endorsement introduced the world to some of the biggest names in fashion, like Alexander Wang, Alexander McQueen, Marc Jacobs, Michael Kors, John Galliano and Zac Posen.

Women can also learn the meaning of confidence and self-actualization from Wintour. Brands can learn how to develop an identity and define the curve from her, and the world can learn that strong opinions paired with passion can define the future.

Anna Wintour is queen -- an imaginary title that she rightfully deserves.

Photo Credit: WENN