But until now, no one has told the extraordinary story of its origins, the famous names who helped shape the magazine into the global powerhouse it is today, and Glamour’s many historic firsts and contributions.

Chronicled visually and narratively through historic and modern-day Glamour covers, stunning photographs, editorial features, and never-before-seen correspondences, Glamour: An Extraordinary History charts the evolution of the magazine from its inception just months before World War II began in 1939 to today as an unparalleled testament to trailblazing women. Glamour was the first American fashion magazine to feature a Black cover star, Katiti Kironde, and the first to put model Beverly Johnson on the cover (she starred 15 more times). It was one of the first to present Gloria Steinem’s writing, and publish Andy Warhol’s illustrations.

Presidents Reagan, Kennedy, Johnson, Nixon, Bush, and Obama all featured in or contributed to Glamour. And its courageous reporting on reproductive rights garnered numerous prestigious awards. In a gripping journey, follow some of the critical women editors and journalists who spearheaded the magazine as it became, in the words of Condé Nast himself, “a periodical devoted to…the life of our day.”