What's in a Cover? (ft. Teen Vogue editor Lex McMenamin)

Vivian Jenna Wilson first made headlines in 2024 as Elon Musk’s estranged “transgender daughter,” a reductive framework that much of the mainstream media continues to use for clicks. Wilson is newsworthy for all of who she is: an outspoken critic of Musk, an advocate for trans rights, a college student, an aspiring model, a gamer, and a “RuPaul’s Drag Race” superfan. Don’t come for her on Bluesky if you can’t handle a clap back. This is the Vivian Jenna Wilson that Teen Vogue introduced to the world in the magazine’s March 2024 cover story.

This week, Katelyn and Christine chat with Teen Vogue editor Lex McMenamin about the making of the cover story. Teen Vogue often sets the bar for political coverage that doesn’t play both sides when one side is full of—you know. *side-eye emoji* Katelyn, Christine, and Lex demystify and define journalism standards amid a larger discussion of how to improve trans media coverage under Trump 2.0. 

Links:

• Ella Yurman for Teen Vogue: Vivian Jenna Wilson on Being Elon Musk’s Estranged Daughter, Protecting Trans Youth and Taking on the Right Online
• Follow Lex McMenamin (they/them) on Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/leximcmenamin.com
• Follow Ella Yurman on Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/ellayurman.bsky.social
• Follow Vivian Jenna Wilson on Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/thevivllainous.bsky.social
• David Ingram for NBC News: Elon Musk's transgender daughter, in first interview, says he berated her for being queer as a child

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