Karefa-Johnson first joined Vogue as an associate fashion editor for fashion director Tonne Goodman. In 2017, she left Vogue for the fashion director post at Garage.[1] She returned to Vogue after the closure of Garage and became the first Black woman to style a Vogue cover.[2]
During her tenure at Vogue, Karefa-Johnson attracted media attention for her social media comments criticizing Kanye West for presenting "White Lives Matter" shirts at the 2022 Paris Fashion Week. West responded by posting Karefa-Johnson's picture on Instagram with the caption, "This is not a fashion person", exposing her to social media harassment.[3]
In October 2023, Karefa-Johnson left Vogue due to the discomfort she felt at Conde Nast as an outspoken critic of the Israeli invasion of the Gaza Strip.[2]