This year’s Teen Vogue Summit was more than just exclusive style sessions, musical performances and giveaways, as the Editor-in-Chief, Versha Sharma, called for inclusivity in today’s political climate during her opening speech on Saturday afternoon.
“This [is] a stressful time right now, and we want Teen Vogue Summit to be a place where we come together … and lift each other up,” Sharma said.
Attendees had the chance to connect with industry professionals at the Networking Lounge, which included DEI officers who aim to diversify recruitment candidates under Teen Vogue’s parent company, Conde Nast. Guests also had opportunities to feel like their best selves, as they visited booths at Clinique’s free skincare consultations and received free editorial photoshoots at The Lounge Booth.
Madeline Townsend, a junior in high school and an aspiring fashion stylist, was most excited to network with the fashion community. Young actors Maxcianna Saintilus and Andreya Wallang were also eager to listen to and network with those who found success in the entertainment industry.
“I’m really excited to see Joy Sunday and Leah Jeffries … I’m just excited to try and meet Black creatives,” Saintilus said.
What drew the biggest crowd and loudest cheers, however, was Teen Vogue’s diverse lineup of speakers, from global girl group sensation KATSEYE to trans activist and model Vivian Wilson.
“I know in our current political landscape, they would like to tell you otherwise,” plus-sized model Tess Holliday said in her panel on body positivity, “[But] real beauty is in true diversity.”
KATSEYE’s Lara Raj talked about how powerful representation is, mentioning how each member wanted to see someone who looked like them performing on stage while growing up. Now, Raj said she will be the Indian American idol that young girls can see themselves in. Raj also said how both she and KATSEYE member Megan Skiendal helped other girls come out to their families, warming Raj’s heart.
The group also highlighted their partnership with clothing retail brand GAP and how the GAP stylists encouraged their individuality as members to shine through. During the Summit, the women were styled according to their cultures, with Skiendal holding onto her signature jade bracelet and Manon Bannerman keeping her waist beads. Sophia Laforteza, the group’s leader, said that their “Milkshake” performance with GAP was a big moment for authenticity and representation.
“My favorite part about KATSEYE is that anyone can look at us and see herself in us,” Bannerman said during the panel. “It’s an honor [to be an idol], and we take that role seriously. We don’t take it lightly.”
Actors Marissa Bode, Inaki Godoy, Nikki Rodriguez, Joy Sunday and Leah Jeffries also spoke on the impact of media representation on their fanbase in their joint panel, Fandom Fueled, Character Driven. Jeffries, in particular, said that portraying a typically Caucasian character — Annabeth from “Percy Jackson” — as a Black woman came with pressure. However, Jeffries said a girl once came up to her and opened up about what Annabeth meant to her.
“She [said to me], ‘Seeing someone that looks like me on TV that’s brave and strong … makes me want to act so people can see me like that too,’” Jeffries said.
Singer-songwriter Tanner Adell discussed her own journey becoming her own representative in the world of country music, injecting her own story alongside elements of rap and trap into her music. She then treated audiences with a snippet of her life, singing an acoustic version of “Going Blonde,” a song about connecting with her biological mother.
Despite this call for diversity in the creative industry, model Vivian Wilson said in her panel that trans people, like herself, are being demonized, and there is a need to rewrite this narrative. She recalls reading a biography of her estranged father, Elon Musk, and how she was portrayed as a “communist who was brainwashed,” and feeling hurt by it. More recently, she discussed feeling like the trans community is being painted as potential school shooters through online misinformation.
“I’m not going to shoot anyone. I’m a model,” Wilson said.
Still, Wilson continues to further her career as a trans woman, promising to participate in more runways and drag shows in the future.
Alyson Stoner, Raven-Symoné and Miranda Maday then talked about growing up in the entertainment industry and how young entertainers have to be aware of their rights during their panel, Who Are You When Everyone’s Watching?. Stoner said actors have to take care of their mental health, especially considering that fame has the same addictiveness as drugs. They also said that freelancing creators have to understand when they are being underpaid and overworked, as exposure in the industry is not enough to survive.
“People care more about your mental health [today] … And that’s a beautiful thing,” Symone said. “[But] we also can’t create snowflakes in this industry...This is a business. There are millions of dollars at stake, and you cannot be hurt because somebody didn’t pick you.”
The day ended with Hannah Bahng’s acoustic performances of songs from her latest EP, “The Misunderstood.” She said her EP was all about being her most authentic self, echoing the ethos of the Teen Vogue Summit.