The internet appears to be having trouble separating fiction from reality following a viral Vogue editorial featuring both Anna Wintour And Meryl Streep in the May 2026 issue of the magazine.
Wintour has long been considered the real-life inspiration for Miranda Priestly in “The Devil Wears Prada,” the character played by Streep in the 2006 film. For years, that connection existed at a distance: Wintour as an influential editor shaping the fashion industry, and Miranda as the cinematic interpretation of that power.
Today, fans say the distance has closed.
By appearing together in a coordinated photoshoot and participating in the same editorial conversation, many on social media believe Wintour and Streep have effectively aligned the real-life character with the fictional one.
Anna Wintour and Meryl Streep team up for striking Vogue feature
The May 2026 issue of Vogue features a joint editorial focused on Wintour and Streep.
The piece was written by Chloé Malle and photographed by Annie Leibovitz. It was performed at the Crosby Street Hotel in New York, where the two women were brought together for the first time in this format.
For the visual portion of the report, Wintour and Streep were dressed in designer looks and photographed together in multiple configurations, appearing side by side in the same editorial frames.
A recorded conversation also took place, led by filmmaker Greta Gerwig. During this exchange, Streep explained that she was inspired by Wintour by thinking of Miranda Priestly in “The Devil Wears Prada.”
‘The Devil Wears Prada’ looks less like fiction after Wintour-Streep meeting
Wintour and Streep’s Vogue feature arrives just ahead of “The Devil Wears Prada” sequel “The Devil Wears Prada 2,” which is scheduled to premiere May 1, 2026.
The sequel comes nearly two decades after the original film’s release, with some fans suggesting that the line between fiction and reality has narrowed significantly over that time, if it still exists.
Reacting to the feature on Reddit, one user wrote: “It’s cute, but I find it deeply strange that Miranda is now seen as a girlboss to the point where we’re all chilling with Anna Wintour.”
Another commenter supported this view, adding: “Yes, PR works as intended. ‘She enabled a toxic work culture, but look how cool she looks doing it!'”
Old Anna Wintour Stories Resurface Amid Vogue Report
Amid the discourse on art and life surrounding the Vogue report, older stories about Wintour’s reputation within the fashion industry have also resurfaced. These stories describe a strict, hierarchical work environment at Condé Nast, where she serves as global chief content officer.
“My dad worked at Condé Nast, and one of the first things he was told when he was hired was not to get in the elevator if Anna was in it,” one commenter wrote on Reddit.
Similar claims were echoed by several other users on the platform, with some even making comparisons to “The Devil Wears Prada.”
“Isn’t there a scene in DWP where a model gets off the elevator for Miranda?” » asked one user.
Viewers say movies made Miranda more ‘likable’ than expected
Another strong sentiment on social media is about the difference between the original source material and its screen adaptation, particularly in how Streep’s portrayal of Miranda is perceived.
Some fans argued that some aspects of the character’s harsher traits were softened in the film compared to the book.
“The movie was also more nuanced in its portrayal, I think, than the book,” said one commenter on Reddit. “The movie actually seems to care about what kind of person Miranda Priestly really is, beyond a devil.”
Internet Says Meryl Streep’s Look Outshines Anna Wintour
However, not all fans were focused on the ever-blurred line between fiction and reality. Some focused solely on the visuals, praising Streep for appearing in the Vogue shoot alongside Wintour.
“Wintour sucks, Streep is gorg, no further comment,” one fan wrote on Reddit.
Another said: “Anna is basically a model lol. Meryl radiates with so much charisma, it’s humbling.”
At the same time, a few commentators reflected on Wintour’s greater legacy, with one suggesting that her position might have been viewed differently had she chosen to walk away from the industry sooner: “If she had just retired 10 years ago instead of being the Joe Biden of the fashion world, her legacy would be much different.” »