From Blanton Hall Front Desk to Oprah Daily
“I thought, why not? I feel like I could be great there.” That was Raena Loper’s thinking when, as a Montclair State University student working the front desk at Blanton Hall, she found an internship listing for O, The Oprah Magazine and applied, Montclair State University reported. A decade later, Loper holds the title of Fashion Commerce Editor at Oprah Daily.
The internship took root because of her work in Montclair’s fashion department with retired Professor Abby Lillithun and in the historic costume closet, experience that caught the magazine’s interest. From that start, Loper spent 10 years in media, working on signature features like Oprah’s Favorite Things and The O List, and pitching directly to Oprah Winfrey.
Ten Years Across Magazine Titles
Loper’s path moved through several major outlets. She began as a style intern at O, The Oprah Magazine, became a full-time style assistant and style editor, and spent four years on Oprah’s Favorite Things. “I was the youngest on the team at the time and would present to Oprah, and I loved it,” she said.
After a layoff from O magazine in 2021, she was immediately hired by Good Housekeeping, another Hearst title, as a product and reviews updates editor. There she tested items ranging from ranges and microwaves to sewing machines, working alongside scientists and engineers. She later served as a weekend updates editor and SEO content strategist at Forbes, freelanced as an accessories writer for InStyle, and worked as a style assistant at NET-A-PORTER before returning to Oprah Daily.
Testing Denim and Coats at Oprah Daily
In her current role, Loper’s workspace sits directly across from Editor-at-Large Gayle King’s office, and her supervisor is Creative Director Adam Glassman, who “watched me grow up from an intern to now being in my early 30s,” Loper said. Her daily responsibilities include product testing—recently denim and coats—to evaluate performance and quality for readers. Her testing background at Good Housekeeping and Forbes is what brought her back to Oprah Daily.
Loper, a Montclair Educational Opportunity Fund program scholar, won honors in the Fashion Department’s Independent Design competition three years in a row. In 2024, she returned to campus to help judge that student competition.
Raena Loper’s Advice for Students
Drawing on a decade in media and fashion, Loper outlined several principles for students and recent graduates. Her biggest piece of advice is to treat everyone with respect: “Make sure you’re kind and respectful to everyone that you come across and try your best.” She emphasized that internships are critical early career steps, that workers should remain learners regardless of the assignment, and that networking is constant because industries like publishing are small. “Everyone kind of knows each other… You never know who you’re going to work with again,” she said. She also urged students to trust their path, taking constructive criticism while following their own judgment. Loper sums up her career with a single phrase: “I’ve been blessed.”
Questions About Raena Loper’s Path
What degrees did Raena Loper earn at Montclair State?
She earned bachelor’s degrees in Fashion and in Gender, Sexuality and Women’s Studies, according to Montclair State University.
Who supervises Raena Loper at Oprah Daily?
Creative Director Adam Glassman, who has known her since her internship days, oversees her work.
What did Raena Loper win at Montclair State?
She won honors in the Fashion Department’s Independent Design competition three years in a row and served as a judge for the 2024 edition.
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