Elaine Welteroth
Elaine Welteroth is an award-winning journalist, New York Times bestselling author, producer and television host who appears as a judge on Bravo’s “Project Runway” and co-hosted “The Talk” on CBS. She’s also a columnist for the Washington Post and shares the regular advice feature titled “Ask Elaine.” Welteroth is an advocate as well as an esteemed expert, leader and voice for the next generation of changemakers. Her first book, “More Than Enough: Claiming Space for Who You Are No Matter What They Say,” was released in 2019. The memoir-meets-manifesto became an instant New York Times bestseller and won the 2020 NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Literary Work.
As the former editor-in-chief of Teen Vogue, Welteroth broke barriers and became the youngest person to serve as an editor-in-chief at a Condé Nast publication and only the second Black journalist to hold the title in the company’s history. Prior to that, she was the publishing giant’s first-ever Black beauty director and held senior editorial roles at both Glamour and Ebony, where she started her career in magazine journalism. During her decade-long tenure, Welteroth used her groundbreaking positions at the helm of global mass media companies to prioritize diversity and social justice coverage, elevate marginalized voices and amplify political discourse. In 2021, Welteroth released her own MasterClass on designing a dream career by harnessing one’s values, skills and passions.
Welteroth’s own passion continues to motivate her to advocate for the next generation of changemakers and fight for underrepresented voices to be heard. Her advocacy work includes being appointed Cultural Ambassador for Michelle Obama’s “When We All Vote” initiative in 2020 where she worked to galvanize voter turnout among youth and BIPOC voters. Welteroth is also an advocate for maternal health rights. She became a Bobbie MotherBoard activist in 2022 to further the efforts of Bobbie for Change – the social impact arm of infant formula brand Bobbie – and support nonprofit organization 4Kira4Moms’ mission to put an end to the U.S. maternal mortality crisis, disproportionately plaguing Black women. During her pregnancy and process of deciding on a birthing method, she started an Instagram Live series, “MaterniTea: Expecting … the Unexpected,” to break through the conventional expectations of pregnancy, motherhood as well as provide resources and insights to women of color.
In addition to writing credits on hit Freeform series “Grown-ish,” her work has appeared in The New York Times, British Vogue, Time, Glamour and the Hollywood Reporter. After building her media career in New York, the Northern California native now resides in Los Angeles with her husband and new baby.
