Why Anna Wintour Originally Didn’t Want Influencers at the Met Gala

Before we get into today’s newsletter, I want to talk about our second Creator Economy Summit, happening on May 25. We’re really excited to speak with executives from major companies including Instagram, YouTube and Pinterest and hear from creators like TikTok star Josh Richards. We’re going to dive into topics ranging from what Web3 and NFTs really mean for creators, to the fight for digital talent among big social networks. You won’t want to miss it! Reserve your spot here. 

Now, on to the newsletter…

It’s become a fun pastime for us to pick out how many social media creators are present at major events such as the Met Gala. Monday’s event had a reasonable showing of TikTok and YouTube stars (see the rundown here). But fashion’s big night out hasn’t always been that enamored with influencers, according to “Anna,” a new book out this week about Anna Wintour, the iconic editor-in-chief of Vogue who organizes the fundraising event for the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

After the Gala, I talked to author Amy Odell about Wintour’s often-dismissive take on an earlier generation of influencers—namely Paris Hilton and the Kardashians—and how that has evolved. What stood out from Odell’s reporting was how much these cable-TV celebrities were seen as outsiders to the fashion firmament. That feeling also seems to have carried over to online stars—even though so much of the Gala is consumed on social media feeds (and is sponsored by Instagram!)