Elaine Marie Welteroth (born December 10, 1986)^[2] is an American journalist, editor,^[3] author,^[4] and television host. In April 2016, Welteroth was named editor-in-chief of Teen Vogue, making her the second person of African-American heritage in Condé Nast's 107-year history to hold such a title.^[5] Her promotion to editor at age 29 makes her the second youngest editor in Condé Nast history, behind former Teen Vogue EIC Lindsay Peoples Wagner who was 28 when she started in the role in Condé Nast.^[6] When she became beauty director of Teen Vogue in 2012, Welteroth was the first person of African-American heritage to serve in the role.^[7] She is credited for the notable increase of Teen Vogue coverage of politics and social justice,^[8] encouraging readers to become civically engaged, specifically during the 2016 U.S. presidential election.^[9] Under Welteroth's leadership of Teen Vogue's shifting format, the magazine developed its first YouTube channel, featuring content on diverse subjects from campus style to cultural appropriation.^[10] The final print edition of Teen Vogue was December 2017.

On January 11, 2018, Welteroth resigned from Teen Vogue and moved to California and signed with CAA.^[11] In October 2018, Welteroth became a judge on Project Runway as part of the series' return to Bravo.^[12] In June 2019 her memoir, More Than Enough: Claiming Space for Who You Are (No Matter What They Say), was published by Viking.^[13]

Welteroth was born in Newark, California. Her father is of German and Irish descent,^[14] while her mother is African American.^[15] She grew up in Fremont, California and in 2004, she graduated from Newark Memorial High School in Newark, California, where she competed in track and field.^[16] In 2007, Welteroth graduated from Sacramento State University, majoring in mass communication/media studies with a minor in journalism.^[17]

Elaine Welteroth was first in her family to become a college graduate. She graduated with a degree in public relations with a minor in journalism from Sacramento State University.^[18][19]

Welteroth's first job in her hometown was being a mascot for her local Hometown Buffet, wearing a bird suit. She has described the best career advice she's ever received as: "Bite off more than you can chew. And then chew as fast as you can".^[20] As a Multicultural Advertising Intern Program (MAIP) Fellow, Welteroth secured an internship at the advertising, marketing, and public relations firm, Ogilvy & Mather, upon graduation from California State University-Sacramento.^[21] She then became a content producer for SomaGirls.TV, a digital media company.^[22] Welteroth broke into the magazine industry via an unpaid internship at Ebony magazine.^[23] In pursuit of the internship, Welteroth wrote Harriette Cole, then editor in chief, a letter asking for an informational interview, sent her an email, and called her assistant numerous times. Cole gave Welteroth the chance to assist with a cover shoot for Serena Williams in Los Angeles.^[24] Impressed with Welteroth's professionalism on set, Cole decided to fly her out for an internship with Cole at Ebony; Welteroth then later became Cole's assistant.^[25] This next became a permanent position as the magazine's Beauty & Style Editor from 2008 to 2011.^[23]

Welteroth joined Condé Nast in September 2011 by becoming the Beauty & Style editor for Glamour magazine in 2011, and then Senior Beauty Editor. She became the Beauty & Health Director at Teen Vogue in October 2012, making her the first African-American to hold this position.^[23] In the February 2013 copy of Teen Vogue, her debut issue as Beauty & Health Director, she penned the article "Natural Wonder", where Welteroth encouraged readers to embrace their natural hair texture while also sharing her favorite natural hair products.^[26] Welteroth was named editor of Teen Vogue in May 2016, replacing the founding editor-in-chief Amy Astley when Astley left to become editor-in-chief of Architectural Digest.^[27] On September 8, 2016, Welteroth was honored at the 2016 Fashion Show & Style Awards through Harlem's Fashion Row, a platform for multicultural fashion designers, as Editor of the Year.^[25] In 2016, Welteroth was named number 47 on The Root's list of 100 influential African-Americans.^[28] Condé Nast officially named Welteroth editor-in-chief of Teen Vogue on April 29, 2017.^[29] In 2017, Girls Write Now, a non-profit mentorship program based in New York City which encourages at-risk girls to find their voices through writing, named her an honoree for their May 23 annual awards ceremony.^[30]

In 2020, Welteroth was named to the Ebony Power 100 List.^[31]

On 1 December 2020, Welteroth was confirmed to be replacing Eve on the daytime talk show, The Talk.^[32] Nine months later, it was revealed that Welteroth would no longer be on the show.

Elaine Welteroth is a co-founder of 15 Percent Pledge, a non-profit organization that encourages all major enterprises and corporations to create 15% of their shelf-space for products from Black owned businesses. Her other business partners are Aurora James and Selby Drummond.^[18] Welteroth hosts a vodcast, Build to Last, to highlight and uplift Black influencers, their contribution and experiences.^[18][33]

In December 2016, Welteroth became engaged to musician Jonathan Singletary and was married in May 2020. The wedding took place in their street and followed strict social distancing laws set out as a result of COVID-19. The two originally met as children while they attended the same church.^[51] She also provided background vocals for Singletary's song, "Don't Fight Alone".^[52]

She was recognized as one of the BBC's 100 women of 2017.^[53]

• More Than Enough: Claiming Space for Who You Are New York: Viking, 2019. ISBN 9780525561583, OCLC 1103468376^{[54][55][56][57]}