What did it take to make a tabloid mag in the It Girl era? You know, the days when Britney Spears, Paris Hilton, Nicole Richie or Lindsay Lohan were falling out of cars, in and out of rehab and a ruthless paparazzi pack was documenting all of it? It’s the era that, through a 2021 lens, might be the most problematic of them all, but back then, what was it like to work in the magazines that knew the more outrageous the antics, the higher the sale?

On this episode of Extraordinary Stories: Magazine Queens, Emma Gillespie speaks to Australia’s weekly magazine Queen Louisa Hatfield and Mamamia’s own, former OK! Deputy Editor Holly Wainwright, about the Britney years.

THE END BITS:

This episode was originally released to MPlus subscribers. Subscribers get unlimited access to all Mamamia content. To subscribe head to mamamia.com.au/mplus

With thanks to:

Louisa Hatfield.

And Holly Wainwright.

Find out more about Extraordinary Stories here.

Find out more about MPlus here.

GET IN TOUCH:

Feedback? We’re listening! Email us at podcast@mamamia.com.au

Need more lols, info and inspo in your ears? Find more Mamamia podcasts here... https://www.mamamia.com.au/podcasts/

CREDITS:

Host: Emma Gillespie

Writers: Melanie Sauer, Emma Gillespie and Holly Wainwright

Producers: Melanie Sauer and Emma Gillespie

Audio Production: Elissa Ratliff and Madeline Joannou

Executive Producer: Holly Wainwright and Elissa Ratliff

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The 1990s were the era of the supermodels, the waifs, and a trend so deadly it came with a health warning: heroin chic. Vogue, Harper’s Bazaar, and Marie Claire brought luxury to the local newsagent and gave Australian women a taste of the runways of Paris and Milan. A handful of women known by their first names only were on every cover: Naomi, Cindy, Linda, Elle… until the waifs came along and knocked them off.

On this episode of Extraordinary Stories: Magazine Queens, Emma Gillespie speaks to former Vogue Editor Kirstie Clements about what it was like working in a world that would fly you to Paris for a manicure and also refuse to make clothes that could fit grown-up women. And Paula Joye tells us about what it was like working with the supermodels of the 90s... And yes, she saw them all naked.

THE END BITS:

This episode was originally released to MPlus subscribers. Subscribers get unlimited access to all Mamamia content. To subscribe head to mamamia.com.au/mplus

With thanks to Kirstie Clements here.

And Paula Joye here.

Find out more about Extraordinary Stories here.

Find out more about MPlus here.

GET IN TOUCH:

Feedback? We’re listening! Wmail us at podcast@mamamia.com.au

Need more lols, info and inspo in your ears? Find more Mamamia podcasts here... https://www.mamamia.com.au/podcasts/

CREDITS:

Host: Emma Gillespie

Writers: Melanie Sauer, Emma Gillespie and Holly Wainwright

Producers: Melanie Sauer and Emma Gillespie

Audio Production: Elissa Ratliff and Madeline Joannou

Executive Producer: Holly Wainwright and Elissa Ratliff

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The most infamous battle in Australian magazine history happened against the backdrop of an imploding royal marriage and an obsession with a tortured princess. And the most infamous editor in weekly magazines, Nene King, had exactly the killer instinct to capitalise on it. Welcome to the Diana Wars, when two esteemed editors went head to head in a circulation battle for the eyes and attention of millions of Australian women - whatever the cost.

In episode two of Extraordinary Stories: Magazine Queens, Nene King, Angela Mollard and Louisa Hatfield talk to Emma Gillespie about an era of tabloid excess, and how it all came crashing down after a midnight high-speed chase through a Parisian tunnel.

THE END BITS:

This episode was originally released to MPlus subscribers. Subscribers get unlimited access to all Mamamia content. To subscribe head to mamamia.com.au/mplus

With thanks to Nene King, Angela Mollard (https://www.instagram.com/angelamollard/ ) and Louisa Hatfield (https://www.instagram.com/louisahatfield1/ )

Find out more about MPlus at www.mamamia.com.au/mplus

RESOURCES WE USED:

Nene King by Peter Fitzsimons

Paper Giants: Magazine Wars https://www.abc.net.au/tv/papergiants/

GET IN TOUCH:

Feedback? We’re listening! Email us at podcast@mamamia.com.au

Need more lols, info and inspo in your ears? Find more Mamamia podcasts here... https://www.mamamia.com.au/podcasts/

CREDITS:

Host: Emma Gillespie

Writers: Melanie Sauer, Emma Gillespie and Holly Wainwright

Producers: Melanie Sauer and Emma Gillespie

Audio Production: Elissa Ratliff and Madeline Joannou

Executive Producer: Holly Wainwright and Elissa Ratliff

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.