The last 18 months has seen SHOP Til You Drop editor Kelly Baker embark on the difficult task of moving the magazine from a monthly title to a seasonal style bible, a role she has undertaken with great success. But the editor is now returning to her love of the beauty industry with the announcement she has accepted the position of beauty editor at body+soul.
Beginning on the title in mid-February, Baker’s last issue with SHOP will be the Autumn magazine - on stands March 15. While Baker’s title at body+soul is beauty editor, she’s hoping this may extend further into other areas: “If I play my cards right, I’ll also write some health and lifestyle stories too.”
Here, BEAUTYDIRECTORY chats to Baker about the new role and saying goodbye to the SHOP team.
Congratulations on your new role at body+soul. What appealed to you about the position?
I’m a beauty girl through and through and I was so excited to be offered this role. I love beauty and everything related to it and I’m a huge fan of body+soul. To be able to combine both is a great pleasure and an honour. The section has an enormous readership, well into the millions, and better still it’s a proactive readership. They’re involved and interested and wanting to learn and listen. You can’t ask for much more than that.
Are you sad to be leaving SHOP Til You Drop?
Moving on from SHOP is bittersweet. It feels a little like when my boys were confident enough and well established enough to leave my side. I was so proud of them. Sending them out into the world was the right thing to do but it was hard on my heart all the same. SHOP is my third baby in that way. I was brought on board to help the magazine establish itself as a seasonal style bible. I feel I’ve done that successfully and now it’s time for me to hand over the reins to someone else. SHOP is in terrific shape and will do brilliantly, but it’s tough to say goodbye. I’ll miss the folk who’ve worked so hard alongside me too. A talented and gorgeous bunch who I sincerely hope to work with again.
What excites you most about the new role?
I’ve worked in beauty on and off for such a long time and I have a genuine passion for everything involved in the industry. I am mad for new products, trends and developments so it will be a real pleasure for me to be at the forefront of that world again. I’m also incredibly excited to be able to spend more time with the women (and men – that’s you Michael Brown and Cameron Pine!) who work in the industry. These are my people and I have missed them greatly.
