Ellianna Placas

When Essence--a magazine that targets black women--hired Ellianna Placas--a white woman--back in the summer of 2010 to be its fashion director, people

• By Dhani Mau
  Jul 31, 2012

Okay, so, as you've probably read at some point somewhere today, Essence magazine hired a white fashion director. Some black people in the industry--and surely some outside of it--are really pissed. Essence, for those living under a 1960s-style rock, is a lifestyle magazine geared towards black people. Naysayers are angry because: A. This white person--her name is Ellianna Placas--is filling up one of the few spots in the publishing industry designed specifically for a black person. B. How will a white person understand modern black style?

• By Lauren Sherman
  Jul 28, 2010