Kenya Hunt

Kenya Hunt (born August 17, 1976) is an American fashion writer and editor. In 2022, she became the first Black woman to serve as editor-in-chief of Elle UK.^[1]

Hunt was raised in Virginia and graduated from the University of Virginia with a bachelor's degree in English literature. She also holds a master's degree in Literature and the Arts from Oxford University.^[2][3]

As a student, Hunt gained writing experience through internships at The Village Voice and Vibe magazine. An editor at The Village Voice recommended her for a role at Jane magazine, where she began as a research assistant and later became an assistant editor. Following her tenure at Jane, Hunt moved to the United Kingdom.^[3]

Hunt joined Elle UK as the fashion features director in 2015.^[1] That year, she founded R.O.O.M. Mentoring to support greater diversity in the fashion industry.^[4] She was promoted to a deputy editor position at Elle UK in 2017, a role she held until 2019 when she became the fashion director of Grazia UK.^[3]

In 2020, Hunt published her first book, a collection of essays by herself and other high-profile Black women titled Girl: Essays on Black Womanhood. ^[5] She was recognized as a Global Leader of Change by the British Fashion Council at The Fashion Awards the following year.^[6]

Hunt returned to Elle UK in 2022 as the publication's editor in chief.^[3]

Hunt has resided in London since 2008 with her husband, Matthew McGuinness.^[1][7] The couple have two sons.^[8]