EP 83: PEOPLE’s World’s Most Beautiful: Editor-In-Chief & GM Charlotte Triggs On Running The Iconic Brand
How She Does ItShow Notes
PEOPLE is one of the most recognizable names in the entertainment news and lifestyle space, and at the helm of the print & digital enterprise is Editor-In-Chief and General Manager Charlotte Triggs. And if you’re familiar with PEOPLE, then you know the two big, annual tentpole issues of the 52-year-old publication are PEOPLE’s Sexiest Man Alive and PEOPLE’s World’s Most Beautiful.
Charlotte Triggs gives listeners an inside look at putting those issues together, including her most recent effort: Anne Hathaway’s cover and interview for PEOPLE’s World’s Most Beautiful. Triggs spoke with the “Devil Wears Prada 2” star and shares her takeaways from their conversation. Triggs also opens up about her climb to the top of PEOPLE, where she started as an intern . She's been serving as Editor-In-Chief and General Manager since early 2025. During her career, the media landscape has changed dramatically, and Triggs has had a front row seat. Despite diminishing print sales across the industry, she is focused on keeping the brand moving forward. Among those efforts: finding ways to keep their core audience engaged, including the introduction of The PEOPLE App last year.
💬 In this episode, we explore:
What it’s like booking celebrities for these special issues (including what’s happening with this year’s PEOPLE’s Sexiest Man Alive)
How the staffing at PEOPLE has transformed over the years as the media business has changed
Why journalism and getting the story right are still paramount
The reason the Kennedy Family, and most recently the series “Love Story,” continues to capture the attention of PEOPLE readers
How Charlotte Triggs views what brands are - are not - PEOPLE’s competition
What it is like for her going to awards shows like The Grammys
The career strategy she used to continually advance at the brand
Her leadership style, including her “direct” approach in dealing with her team
The celebrity who is her dream cover, which she has yet to land
Advice for journalists who want to work at PEOPLE
Resources:
💻 Visit People.com
📲Download the PEOPLE App
📸 Follow Charlotte Triggs on Instagram
📸 Follow Charlotte Triggs On LinkedIn
📸 Follow PEOPLE on Instagram
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