Dasha Zhukova takes on ‘Pop’ magazine

Dasha Zhukova (pictured), girlfriend of Roman Abramovich, has been made editor-in-chief of the British style magazine Pop. The 27-year-old, who recently founded the Garage arts centre in Moscow and has a fashion label called Kova & T, said: “We are working hard on a complete revamp in order to provide a broader point of view focusing also on art, contemporary culture and the globalisation of all things pop-related."

Dasha’s appointment follows an attempt by Conde Nast, publisher of Vogue and Vanity Fair among others, to buy Pop from its owners, the German publishing group Bauer. The offer was rebuffed and in turn Conde Nast proceeded to poach founder editor Katie Grand and her team to produce its own cutting edge style magazine Love, the first issue of which featured a naked Beth Ditto on its cover.

To repel this challenge, Dasha, who has no journalistic experience, has recruited an editorial board to provide guidance and inspiration. Members include the artist and film director Sam Taylor-Wood, the fashion designer Daphne Guinness and girl about town (mainly Paris), Julia Restoin Roitfeld. At least the latter has some editorial knowledge: her mother is Carine Roitfeld, dynamic editor of French Vogue.