Magazine Queens-The Editors Who Made Our Day

What’s the goss, ladies?! The lucky women who got all the scoops

When we think of magazine editors of times gone by, long polished talons, big shoulder pads and a decisive air of bitchiness might spring to mind. But in reality, what you get when you bring together four Woman’s Day editors, past and present, is a whole lot of memories, plenty of laughs and a shared understanding of just what goes into leading New Zealand’s best-loved women’s mag.

To celebrate the 30th birthday of Woman’s Day, Editor-in-Chief Sido Kitchin, who took over the mantle in 2011, met up with former editors Sarah Henry (20062010), Megan McChesney (2001-2008) and Michele Crawshaw (1999-2001) to reminisce. The women, who still work closely at Woman’s Day’s publisher Bauer Media in Auckland, can’t believe it’s 30 years since the first copy hit newsstands.

While the cover stars have changed and fashion has evolved, the purpose of the magazine remains the same, to keep Kiwi women entertained and inspired – and to provide a treasured escape from their busy lives.

SIDO: When I first started at Woman’s Day as deputy editor in the late ’90s, it was pretty much like the ’80s TV show Gloss. Big hair, big personalities… What do you remember about when you first started out at the magazine?

SARAH: I remember waking up at 5am on my first day as an intern and freaking out about what to wear. I ended up with a mountain of clothes on my bed because I’d changed so many times. I honestly thought I’d walk in and it would be totally glam, but in reality, it was an office full of people working 100 miles an hour, all focused on what they had to deliver for that week and doing the absolute best job. It was all about getting the best stories, best photographs. Everything was about being best and first.