Chloe Malle will take over from Anna Wintour as editor-in-chief of Vogue, the magazine announced, ending months of speculation in the fashion and journalism communities.

Wintour, who has led the prestigious fashion publication for over 40 years, announced in June that she would step down from the role, raising questions about her successor. A posting for the position even appeared on the professional network LinkedIn, although Wintour will retain her role as global editorial director of Vogue and chief content officer at Conde Nast.

Malle, who described herself as a “proud nepo baby” in an interview with The New York Times, is the daughter of actress Candice Bergen and director Louis Malle. Interestingly, Bergen played the role of Vogue’s editor-in-chief in the popular series Sex and the City.

“Chloe Malle is editor-in-chief of American Vogue, effective immediately,” the magazine announced on its website. In her new role, Malle—currently editor of Vogue.com and co-host of the podcast The Run-Through—will oversee the creative and editorial direction of the publication and join the ten existing Vogue editors worldwide, reporting directly to Anna Wintour.

Malle’s work has also appeared in The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, and Architectural Digest. “Fashion and media are evolving at lightning speed, and I’m incredibly excited and inspired to be part of it,” she said. “I also feel incredibly lucky that Anna is just down the hall as my mentor.”

Born in the United Kingdom, Wintour became widely known as the inspiration for The Devil Wears Prada, the 2003 novel and 2006 film for which Meryl Streep received an Academy Award nomination for her portrayal of the tyrannical editor Miranda Priestly. A sequel to the film is expected next year.

Wintour, raised by a British father and American mother, transformed US Vogue from a restrained publication in 1988 into a global fashion powerhouse capable of shaping trends and elevating—or dismantling—designers, celebrities, and brands.

“Chloe has long been one of Vogue’s secret weapons in tracking fashion. But she’s not so insular in the industry that she misses the world around her,” Wintour said of Malle. | BGNES