Samira Nasr named editor in chief of the U.S. edition of Harper’s BAZAAR, overseeing content strategy and development across the brand’s print and digital platforms.
With the Black Lives Matter movement we are seeing a huge surge in visibility, support, and awareness for #BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, People of Color), a new term helping to build a collective community, promoting the inclusion of all people of color.
The percentage of black hires in the U.S. grew from 4.8% in 2018 to 5.5% in 2019, a .7% increase, and female employees didn’t fare much better, dropping from 33.2% of global hires in 2018 to 32.5% in 2019.
In a statement this week Hearst President and CEO Steven R. Swartz and Hearst Magazines President Troy Young announced their first-ever black Editor in Chief of the company’s iconic fashion magazine, Harper’s Bazaar.
This announcement could not come at a better time, it’s time that equitable hiring practices become the norm, rather than the exception. Personally, I feel that we should not stop until the percentage of BIPOC hires is equal to white and we must move to lower the large gaps in income, create more promotional opportunities, and advancement for all.
Samira Nasr will commence her new role as Editor in Chief of Harper’s BAZAAR on July 6, 2020, reporting to Hearst Magazines Chief Content Officer Kate Lewis.
Samira is the first Black editor in chief in the history of the 153-year-old publication.
In her own words, “Fashion and BAZAAR are synonymous,” Nasr says. “It is a tremendous privilege to be entrusted with moving this legacy brand into a new era—one that is colorful, inclusive, and celebrates the beauty of fashion on every platform—while carrying on the tradition of innovative art direction and great style that the BAZAAR audience loves so much. The most beautiful part of working in magazines is the teamwork and creating a community. I can’t wait to get started.”
Samira Nasr with Anita Hill from IG
Recently Samira was the executive fashion director at Vanity Fair, managing and directing the fashion department and all fashion content, including styling for their iconic covers such as the 25th annual Hollywood issue, the spring style issue featuring cover star Lupita Nyong’o, and the May 2019 issue with Nicole Kidman.
“Harper’s BAZAAR is a leading American fashion brand with a point of view that is hugely influential in the U.S. and around the world,” Young says. “Samira’s important voice will continue to evolve the brand’s distinct position as a style touchstone for fashion’s most discerning.”
Samira Nasr U.S. Harper’s BAZAAR
Coming back to Hearst Magazines, Nasr held the role of fashion director at ELLE for five years. Prior to that, she was style director for InStyle.
In addition to working with top fashion magazines in publishing, Nasr has also styled campaigns for fashion and beauty brands, including Laura Mercier, Tiffany & Co., Tory Burch, Estée Lauder, L’Oréal, Clarins, and more.
After earning a graduate degree in journalism at New York University, she went on to begin her career in fashion working as an assistant to Grace Coddington, former creative director of Vogue.
“BAZAAR has always presented the world of fashion through a unique lens—smart, vibrant, adoring. Those words could not better describe Samira, who understands and delights in the world of fashion, but has a thoroughly modern and distinctive take,” Lewis says. “She innately understands the BAZAAR woman, because she is the BAZAAR woman: passionate about fashion, culture, and the issues that matter today. I know she will make something magical here.”
Born in Montreal, Canada, Nasr currently resides in Brooklyn, New York, with her son.
