Power Is Never Permanent: Anna Wintour, Legacy, and the Courage to Let Go
After 37 years, Anna Wintour steps down from American Vogue—what does it mean when iconic figures finally let go of power?
Anna Wintour Steps Down as Editor-in-Chief of American Vogue
When I read this headline, it wasn’t just about fashion for me—it instantly triggered thoughts about power, control, and the nature of authority.
Power is never permanent.
For 37 years, Anna Wintour led American Vogue—not just as an editor, but as a cultural force shaping the direction of the entire fashion industry.
She was more than an editor: she was a figure who could elevate, dismiss, intimidate, and canonize.
An icon.
This may appear to be just a change in title, but it symbolizes something much deeper:
Power is never permanent.
The Obsession With Power Is Universal
Anna Wintour is a strong, iconic woman. Her tenure at Vogue sparked undeniable change: she brought celebrities to the covers, broke traditional fashion codes, and legitimized street style.
These are just a few of the legacies she left behind.
But staying in power for 37 years risks transforming icon status into something stagnant, controlling—even undemocratic.
Fashion may not be politics, but isn’t politics shaped by the cultural codes that fashion creates?
Ego-Driven Power or Purpose-Driven Legacy?
Throughout fashion history, many women have left their mark by creating cultural revolutions.
If we can freely express ourselves through fashion today, it’s thanks to those pioneering women.
Over time, however, Wintour became a figure who didn’t open doors for the younger generation, but rather held the system tightly within her own orbit.
No, she wasn’t a dictator—but the long relationship she maintained with power created more pressure than inspiration.
On the other end of the spectrum stands Joanna Coles, former editor-in-chief of Cosmopolitan.
The character Jacqueline Carlyle from The Bold Type was inspired by her—a fictional editor who uses her influence to uplift and empower young women.
She created opportunity. Wintour chose who received it.
These two women made me ask myself:
What truly lasts—ego or impact?
Is Fashion Changing, or Is the World?
2025 is shaping up to be a year of seismic shifts—not just in fashion, but across global structures.
Leaders, symbols, and systems are stepping down, one by one.
If Wintour has left her seat today, perhaps others will, too.
And inevitably, my thoughts turn to the regime in Iran—
A brutal, authoritarian, terrorist government that has oppressed its people for 47 years, silencing every form of dissent with executions and fear.
No, Anna Wintour is not comparable to this regime.
But we must recognize this:
When power stays in one person's hands too long, it rots them—and the system around them.
Sometimes, stepping away from power isn’t weakness—it’s an act of courage and dignity.
Perhaps today, Anna Wintour chose that path.
After nearly four decades, she made space for younger, freer voices.
With all my heart, I applaud her.
That’s what makes a true icon.
Love and Courage Grow When Shared
I’ve always believed this:
Love and courage grow when shared.
Stepping away from power requires bravery—and not everyone has it.
If a position of power has decayed and turned into oppression, it is up to us to dismantle it.
Just like the people of Iran are doing today—
Raising their voices, telling the world their truth, and standing up to their regime.
Humanity grows through compassion. The world evolves through courage.
To amplify the voices of the Iranian people today is not politics—it is a moral responsibility.
Maybe today, Anna Wintour also chose courage over control.
And if nothing else, this much is clear:
June 26, 2025 will be remembered not just as the end of an editorial era,
but as a symbolic turning point in the history of power.