Kenya Hunt

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Kenya Hunt
Born (1976-08-17) August 17, 1976 (age 47)
Education
Occupation(s)Fashion journalist, magazine editor
Notable credits
Title
SpouseMatthew McGuinness

Kenya Hunt (born August 17, 1976) is an American fashion writer and editor. In 2022, she became the first Black woman to serve as editor-in-chief of Elle UK.[1]

Early life and education[edit]

Hunt was raised in Virginia and graduated from the University of Virginia with a bachelor's degree in English literature. She also holds a master's degree in Literature and the Arts from Oxford University.[2][3]

Career[edit]

As a student, Hunt gained writing experience through internships at The Village Voice and Vibe magazine. An editor at The Village Voice recommended her for a role at Jane magazine, where she began as a research assistant and later became an assistant editor. Following her tenure at Jane, Hunt moved to the United Kingdom.[3]

Hunt joined Elle UK as the fashion features director in 2015.[1] That year, she founded R.O.O.M. Mentoring to support greater diversity in the fashion industry.[4] She was promoted to a deputy editor position at Elle UK in 2017, a role she held until 2019 when she became the fashion director of Grazia UK.[3]

In 2020, Hunt published her first book, a collection of essays by herself and other high-profile Black women titled Girl: Essays on Black Womanhood. [5] She was recognized as a Global Leader of Change by the British Fashion Council at The Fashion Awards the following year.[6]

Hunt returned to Elle UK in 2022 as the publication's editor in chief.[3]

Personal life[edit]

Hunt has resided in London since 2008 with her husband, Matthew McGuinness.[1][7] The couple have two sons.[8]

Awards and nominations[edit]

Year Award Category Result Ref.
2021 The Fashion Awards Global Leader of Change: People Won[a] [9]

Notes[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c "Kenya Hunt". Business of Fashion. Retrieved 21 April 2024.
  2. ^ "Hearst UK: Editor-in-Chief, Kenya Hunt, talks Empowerment". BYP Network. Retrieved 21 April 2024.
  3. ^ a b c d Soar, Sophie. "How I Became… Fashion Director of Grazia UK". Business of Fashion. Retrieved 21 April 2024.
  4. ^ "About Us". R.O.O.M. Mentoring. Retrieved 21 April 2024.
  5. ^ Hunt, Kenya. "Kenya Hunt On #BlackGirlMagic & What It Means To Be A Bad Bitch". Refinery29. Retrieved 21 April 2024.
  6. ^ "Kenya Hunt". Elle. Retrieved 21 April 2024.
  7. ^ Laforest, Gaelle. "Gourmandizing paints SE London delicious colours". East London Lines. Retrieved 21 April 2024.
  8. ^ Abay, Georgie. "Kenya Hunt on Her Book Girl: Essays on Black Womanhood". The Grace Tales. Retrieved 21 April 2024.
  9. ^ "2021 Winners". The Fashion Awards. Retrieved 21 April 2024.