Susan L. Taylor

Susan L. Taylor began her career in beauty and fashion, running her own line of cosmetics before joining Essence magazine, then a young publication aimed at Black women, as a freelance beauty editor in 1970. She rose steadily through the ranks, becoming fashion and beauty editor and eventually editor-in-chief in 1981.

As editor-in-chief for over two decades, Taylor reshaped Essence from a niche publication into an essential cultural institution for Black women in America, expanding its coverage to include politics, health, relationships, and spirituality alongside fashion and beauty, and growing its readership into the millions. Her monthly column, "In the Spirit," became one of the magazine's most beloved features, offering reflections on faith, self-worth, and personal growth that resonated deeply with readers over more than 30 years.

Taylor also helped launch the Essence Music Festival in 1994, which grew into one of the largest annual gatherings celebrating Black culture and music in the United States, and founded the National CARES Mentoring Movement, an organisation recruiting Black adults to mentor at-risk youth. She stepped down as editor-in-chief in 2000 but continued as Essence's editorial director and publications director, and has authored several bestselling books based on her "In the Spirit" columns.