Gabriella Karefa-Johnson On The Role Of A Modern Day Editor

With her spirited approach to life and craft, Gabriella Karefa-Johnson has forged her path into the fashion industry with passionate tenacity and the vision of a more inclusive tomorrow. At a relatively young age, the New York-based stylist and Vogue Global Contributing Fashion Editor-at-Large has honed her innate talent for spotting emerging creative talents. Her narrative-driven approach, has etched her mark by championing diversity and representation, both in her casting and with the creative contemporaries she aligns with. After attending university, she got her second education working under figures like Joe Zee at Elle, Julia Sarr-Jamois at Wonderland, and as an assistant to Hamish Bowles at Vogue. However, it was her transformative experience as an associate fashion editor under the guidance of Vogue fashion director, Tonne Goodman that laid the foundation for her trailblazing career. After developing her love for bold, colorful, and contrasting fashion moments, Karefa-Johnson later assumed the role of fashion director at Garage Magazine in 2017, where she developed her creative repertoire with Nadine Ijewere, Renell Medrano, and Campbell Addy. In a groundbreaking moment with Paloma Elsesser shot by Annie Leibovitz, she became the first Black woman to style a Vogue cover in 2021, breaking barriers long needed to be shattered. Since then, her global influence has transcended borders, as she’s styled international Vogue covers featuring icons such as Serena Williams, Precious Lee, Jill Kortleve, Vice President Kamala Harris, and Gigi and Bella Hadid. As the stylist behind some of our favorite covers, stories and runway shows, she’s also collaborated with a number of brands on special projects and collections as a design partner and consultant. Models.com delves deeper into her world to discuss her fateful start, her continued legacy of inclusivity, and the role of editors as influencers.
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Editor in Chief & Cover Photo: Stephan Moskovic
Managing Editor and Interviewer: Irene Ojo-Felix
Director: Robert Nethery
Post Production: Ben Wulff at Weekend Posthouse
Makeup: Jessica Paillant
Location: Wythe Hotel
Special thanks to CLM and Christopher Michael at Egos and Icons

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Absolutely loved this interview! So real and deeply reflective of your experience in the industry which I appreciate! Gabriella's intellect and charisma is something to be studied! Thank you for sharing your story & perspective with us, babes! ❤