Edward Enninful says his time at Vogue ended ‘how I wanted it to end’, amid whispers he was forced to leave after ‘power struggle’ with Anna Wintour

Edward Enninful has insisted his career at British Vogue ended ‘how I wanted it to end’ amid rumors he was forced out of his role by fashion stalwart Anna Wintour.

Enninful, who served as the magazine’s editor from 2017 until this month, published his final issue last month after announcing in June 2023 that he would be leaving his position.

The British-Ghanaian former model’s tenure at British Vogue was considered more progressive than any editorship that had come before him, seeing the first transgender model, Paris Lees, on the cover. He also oversaw the production of Braille and audio editions of the magazine for readers with visual and hearing impairments.

Despite Enninful suggesting he might one day take over from Wintour as editor-in-chief of Vogue, it was abruptly announced last year that he would be stepping down in early 2024. He has been replaced by Chioma Nnadi, the first black woman to edit the magazine.

As he embarks on a new project organizing an exhibition of the work of photographer Robert Mapplethorpe, Enninful refuses to be drawn into rumors of a “power struggle” between himself and Wintour, which he dismisses as “gossip.”

He said: ‘It ended the way I wanted it to end,’ speaking of his final days in the top job at British Vogue.

Last year, rumors began to circulate that Enninful, who had publicly stated his desire to one day take over from Wintour as global editor-in-chief of Vogue, had become embroiled in a power struggle with the fashion matriarch.

A Vogue insider said at the time: ‘He made no secret of the fact that he wanted the big job [global editorial director] but he hit the glass ceiling and had gone as far as he could.

Enninful’s tenure at the magazine was one of the most progressive ever, and he made no secret of the fact that he might one day want to succeed Wintour as global editor-in-chief.

‘He thought he would stay in London for a few years and then move to New York, but he now knows he will never get Anna’s job at Condé Nast.

‘Anna is the undisputed boss. She has defeated many rivals and continues to do so. She could swat him like a fly.”

But on the rumours, Enninful said: ‘I don’t comment on gossip, I never have.’

Another fashion source said at the time: ‘I think Edward underestimated it [Wintour’s] current. When he was appointed editor, he got so much smoke up his ass that he could no longer see his own pants.

The Mail on Sunday revealed last year that he threatened to resign unless he got Wintour’s job by the end of 2022. Of course that never happened.

As a result, one insider said Enninful’s move to another role within Condé Nast was a “power struggle.”

‘Edward threw his new vision against the old Vogue – and lost. Succession [the hit TV drama about a toxic media family] has nothing on this,” they said.

There have been reports of flaring rows between the pair, with one source saying simmering resentment boiled over when Enninful planned to make the magazine gender neutral.

“This was too much,” the insider said. Another Vogue source added: “There would be disagreements. Wintour would say, ‘Don’t listen to Edward,’ and he’d say, ‘Don’t listen to Anna.’

Known as ‘Nuclear Wintour’ and famous for her sleek bob and dark sunglasses, she has a reputation for being the demanding titan of the industry.

Vogue insiders called Enninful the only “real threat” to her power. Insiders whispered that the pair are ‘not talking’, while a source said five years ago: ‘I don’t think she ever felt he was qualified for that role.’

As far back as 2018, there was speculation that Enninful’s position at British Vogue was only temporary and that he would take over from Wintour when she retires.

But he said in an interview: ‘Everyone wants to know what I do, but I would like to tell you that I don’t want Anna’s job. I talked to her about it a few weeks ago.”

With Enninful leaving Vogue and being replaced by Nnadi, who is currently editor of the US edition’s website, she will be given the title of ‘head of Editorial content’ with an emphasis on ‘digital storytelling’.

Crucially, Enninful’s all-encompassing role as editor-in-chief will no longer exist. Instead, Ms. Nnadi will likely have to report to a multi-step ladder that ends in the New York office.

Fashionistas today compared the move to scenes from The Devil Wears Prada – the adaptation of the book rumored to be about Wintour – in which Miranda Priestley places rival Jacqueline Follet in a top role to prevent her from getting her own job.

Nnadi credits her Nigerian father for fueling her passion for fashion. She says she only remembers him wearing a suit and taking off his tie on weekends.

Speaking from her home in New York, Ms Nnadi said: “Is there pressure? Yes, there is definitely pressure – it’s Vogue.

‘It still means something to be in Vogue, it still has authority. [Edward] broken new ground. It’s more than being part of a magazine; it is part of the cultural conversation.”