The New-Age Author
If you're just waking up from a six-year slumber, it's 2013, and there's a new ringleader in town when it comes to fashion and writing and fashion writing. It's the quirkily lovable Leandra Medine, 24, a.k.a. The Man Repeller, a.k.a. (sure to be best-selling) author of the soon-to-be-in-stores-near-you book of essays Man Repeller: Seeking Love. Finding Overalls. Yes, in an age when image is king, Medine has become the queen of the written word, reinstating its vitality on the web, and, now, in print. And to read her is to know her. Medine's working-through-things stream of consciousness has brought an honesty to the mostly high-walled world of blogging and fashion. She's cultivated one of the most well-honed (and well-followed) voices of our time, and she's done it through hard work, a relentless eye for style, and not talking herself out of executing her own ideas (advice she took from her father). As for staying power? Yep, she'll be here a while. No pretense, just tasteful, pantless pictures.



Tell us the true-life tale of the last completely awesome thing you did.
"Well, yesterday I had a meeting in midtown and upon leaving an office building, I saw a blind woman trying to hail a cab. It is sufficiently difficult to hail a cab when you cannot see and heartbreaking to watch the process, so I offered to help her. After refusing for a solid eight minutes (she was super sassy and obviously quite independent), she finally let me help, and, because we were going in the same direction, I shared the cab with her. I learned she became blind 10 years earlier, and that it's not as bad as people with sight think it is."

Any creative endeavors on the horizon?
"Honestly, I just want one thing and that is for women to come to Man Repeller and feel happier and more empowered, perhaps even slightly smarter than before their visit."

What’s the best professional lesson you ever learned?
"All of the good business advice I have ever learned has come from my dad. These are three of my favorite pieces of advice that he gives: 1. It is easy to talk yourself out of executing your ideas. 2. The power of choice is an important one. You must make decisions, because if you don't they will be made for you. 3. Being 'smart' is not about how much you know — it's about the people you surround yourself with."

If you could switch lives with anyone else under 30, who would it be?
"I wouldn't switch my life with anyone, except for maybe the infant version of myself just to ensure that I can do this again."

What kind of kid were you? How does that affect who you are now?
"Loud , rambunctious, often obnoxious, and highly neurotic. I don't think I've changed all that much to be frank."

Which celebrity would play you in the movie version of your life?
"Drake — we both learned our haftorah portions in a timely manner."

When you were a kid, what did you think you'd be doing at this age?
"Honestly? I thought I'd be fact-checking at New York magazine. It was kind of my dream before I started Man Repeller."

What's been your most humbling moment?
"Short of a couple slight familial crises, which are, of course, always the most humbling moments in life, it's been surreal to see myself on Forbes, Adweek, Time, and Fast Company lists. I'm essentially in this perpetual state of waiting for everyone to finally call my bluff."

Styled by Laura Pritchard, Hair by Bethany Brill, Makeup by Tiffany Patton. Look1 : Hype Means Nothing Jay-Z T-shirt; Sally Lapointe yellow short; Golden Goose red sneaker; Monika Knutsson Cleo, available at Monika Knutsson; Khai Khai ring; Mark Henry ring; Alison Lou ring. Look 2: Chloé striped kimono top; Genetic Denim striped pant; Christian Louboutin striped mule; Khai Khai ring; Mark Henry ring; Alison Lou ring; DoDo necklace; Sara Harary necklace; Tiffany & Co. bracelet.