Elaine Welteroth knows a thing or two about fashion. As the former editor-in-chief of Teen Vogue, a best-selling author, and a judge on Project Runway, Welteroth has showcased her impeccable eye for style everywhere from the printed page to the small screen. But her ability to pull off tricky trends and make even the most daunting designer pieces seem down to earth has become especially evident in her latest role co-hosting The Talk, where millions of viewers tune in each weekday to see Welteroth and her fellow panellists debate the issues of the moment—whether politics, entertainment, or style—with honesty and wit.
Though she fits right in with The Talk’s current lineup, which includes Sharon Osbourne, Sheryl Underwood, Carrie Ann Inaba, and Amanda Kloots, Welteroth’s move from industry insider to television regular happened almost overnight. Last December, with plans already in motion to move to Los Angeles with husband Jonathan Singletary, she received a life-changing call from the show’s producers. Having already guest-hosted on series like The View and Live with Kelly and Ryan, she initially assumed the offer was short-term. Instead, they invited her to join as a permanent fixture. “I really believe that the right things, for me at least, are totally organic,” Welteroth shares on the phone from California. “They come at the right time, and you can never anticipate it. That’s what happened with my opportunity, and it was similar with Project Runway too. You can never see these things coming.”
The job itself may have been a surprise, but Welteroth had a clear vision of her career trajectory from the beginning. “I knew I would start in magazines, and it would eventually lead to television,” she says. “Being in front of the camera had always been an ambition of mine.” Still, the unexpected opportunity meant having to consider how she’d present herself on screen with little time to plan—and preparing for a full-time spot on national television requires a little more thought than just what looks good in the mirror. Beginning the job in January amid a global pandemic and the political unrest leading up to President Joe Biden’s inauguration, Welteroth wanted her presence on the show to be meaningful.
“In fashion and media, there are these liberal echo chambers, we sort of live life in a bubble,” she explains. “I was most excited about breaking out of that and speaking to the America that exists outside of my echo chamber. I wanted to learn from these women who have had varied life experiences and different perspectives. They’re coming to these challenging conversations with a spirit of kindness and seeking connections to bridge these divides. To me, that’s an incredible gift, particularly in this moment when many are stuck at home and isolated.”