The 2025 Teen Vogue summit was filled with fashion and conversation, with exciting events and booths.
Located at the NYA West in the heart of Hollywood, on Sept. 20th, this event drew hundreds of die-hard readers and fans of the beloved magazine to network, eat, and attend panels featuring many stars from across various media.
Some fun, stylish booths and activities made it an exciting and memorable experience for guests. OPI nails, Clinique, eBay, and Teen Vogue themselves had booths selling merch and giving freebies. Another area was for free tarot readings to see your future. One booth was a photo booth where people could be on the cover of Teen Vogue. Finally, there was a networking center where budding journalists and writers could speak to industry professionals in the journalism and entertainment fields.
The first panel I saw was a conversation with transgender model and activist Vivian Wilson, the daughter of one of the world’s richest men. Post transition, she became estranged and was disowned by her father, who was referenced in the conversation, but his name was never said. With the current topic of trans rights and demonization, it was refreshing to hear the truths of trans people and how they can succeed in life after her stint at New York Fashion Week.
Next up was a performance by Tanner Adell, an independent country singer who was featured on Beyoncé’s Grammy-winning album, “Cowboy Carter.” In her conversation with Aiyana Ishmael, Tanner spoke about her inspiration, her journey, and how she is reclaiming negative language from the country scene. During her performance, she sang two songs, “Going Blonde,” a tribute to her birth mother, and “Do Angels Drink Whiskey,” a ballad reflecting of whether guardian angels drink to cope with the same stressors that we do.
The panel afterwards was based on the bread and butter of Teen Vogue, fashion.. Sponsored by eBay, guests Wisdom Kaye, Miranda Sanchez, and Enya Umanzor discussed how they used fashion to express themselves and how these garments have allowed them to gain massive followings. It was very insightful as it showed how pre-loved clothing could elevate style while also being good for the environment, especially in a decadent and borderline wasteful era of fast fashion.
Fandom soon took priority on the stage as Marissa Bode (Wicked), Iñaki Godoy (One Piece), Joy Sunday (Wednesday), Leah Jeffries (Percy Jackson and the Olympians), and Nikki Rodriguez (My Life with the Walter Boys), took the mic as they spoke regarding how the fiction of their characters has now affected their lives and careers. In addition to where they will go next, in a time when every move is viewed, whether positive or negative, by online fans and haters.
On the topic of the impact of fame and having eyes on you everywhere, the next panel focused on former child stars Raven Symoné and Alyson Stoner, as well as Raven’s wife, Miranda Maday. They discussed how Hollywood is a cutthroat business, but that things have improved as mental health has become a priority for many, with more awareness and even therapists on set to help actors (starting at a young age). Sadly, even though we are more knowledgeable about mental health, people still come out of the woodwork to hate and spew vitriol. The guests delved into their experiences and discussed how they focused on their craft, their work-life balance, and blocking out the haters.
The massive panel everyone was waiting for, though, was with the worldwide sensation girl group, Katseye. These six girls brought the house down with their charisma, fierceness, beauty, and charm as they discussed their recent viral Gap #BetterInDenim campaign, their set at Lollapalooza, and performing at the VMAs, while gearing up for Coachella. A treat the audience got was a special tutorial on how to do the hand motions from their hit song “Gabriella.” The girls delved into the importance of representation and how they want to inspire other girls to follow their dreams and not be ashamed of who they are.
The event concluded with a performance by Australian singer Hannah Bahng, which, while having some technical difficulties at the beginning, was a very intimate and enriching performance by a master of their craft. The songs she performed were “Sweet Satin Boy,” “Misunderstood,” and “Raison d’être.” The first song and the third were acoustic renditions, while the second was on the keyboard.
Overall, the event was fulfilling and enjoyable for diehard fans and guests, with enriching conversations and fun opportunities for fans to see their favorite stars and influencers off the page.
