# Leandra Medine

> Leandra Medine Cohen is the New York-based fashion writer, cultural commentator, and founder of Man Repeller - the blog that coined a phrase and built a media empire around the radical idea that women dress for themselves. After shutting down Man Repeller in 2020, she re-emerged with The Cereal Aisle, a Substack newsletter now boasting 166,000+ subscribers and a top-5 ranking in Fashion & Beauty. Part sharp wit, part earnest diarist, she writes about getting dressed, motherhood, and everything in between with a voice that is unmistakably her own.

- **Role:** Writer and Founder at The Cereal Aisle
- **Organizations:** The Cereal Aisle, Man Repeller (defunct), Cafe Leandra
- **From:** Manhattan, United States
- **Nationality:** American
- **Education:** Bachelor of Arts in Journalism, The New School, Eugene Lang College, High School Diploma, Ramaz School
- **Known for:** Founded Man Repeller, which grew into a major fashion media brand with millions of monthly page views, Coined and popularized the term 'man repeller' - the concept entered mainstream fashion vocabulary, Forbes 30 Under 30 (2012)

## Career timeline

- **2009** — Started blogging while a student at The New School; studied abroad in Paris
- **2010** — Launched Man Repeller blog in May; featured on Refinery29 within days
- **2011** — Graduated from The New School with B.A. in Journalism
- **2012** — Married Abraham 'Abie' Cohen; signed with Creative Artists Agency (CAA); Forbes 30 Under 30; TIME's 25 Best Blogs
- **2013** — Published debut book 'Man Repeller: Seeking Love, Finding Overalls'; Fast Company 100 Most Creative People
- **2016** — Launched shoe line 'MR by Man Repeller' with Net-a-Porter; twin daughters Laura and Madeline born; revealed miscarriage struggles
- **2019** — Launched partnership collection with Mango
- **2020** — Stepped back from Man Repeller amid diversity criticism; Man Repeller rebranded to 'Repeller' then shut down October 22; launched The Cereal Aisle newsletter on Substack
- **2023** — Launched capsule collection with Parisian label Soeur
- **2024** — New Soeur collection; third daughter Joelle born August 2024
- **2025** — The Cereal Aisle surpasses 166,000 subscribers, ranked #5 in Fashion & Beauty on Substack; auctioned pre-loved wardrobe on eBay for Sharsheret charity

## Achievements

- Founded Man Repeller, which grew into a major fashion media brand with millions of monthly page views
- Coined and popularized the term 'man repeller' - the concept entered mainstream fashion vocabulary
- Forbes 30 Under 30 (2012)
- TIME Magazine's 25 Best Blogs of 2012
- Best Overall Blog at the 2012 Bloglovin' Awards
- Adweek Fashion Power 25 (2012)
- Fast Company 100 Most Creative People (2013)
- Business of Fashion BoF 500 - recognized as one of the people shaping the global fashion industry
- Signed by Creative Artists Agency (CAA) in 2012
- Published debut book in 2013 (Grand Central Publishing)
- Grew The Cereal Aisle Substack to 166,000+ subscribers, ranked #5 in Fashion & Beauty
- Successfully rebuilt her platform independently after Man Repeller's closure

## Latest updates

- **2025-12** — Auctioned 30+ pre-loved fashion pieces on eBay; proceeds benefit Sharsheret (nonprofit supporting Jewish women affected by breast and ovarian cancer)
- **2025-10** — The Cereal Aisle newsletter surpassed 166,000 subscribers, ranking #5 in Fashion & Beauty on Substack
- **2024-08** — Gave birth to third daughter, Joelle
- **2024-03** — Released follow-up capsule collection with Parisian label Soeur featuring sheer dresses, skirts, and logo tanks
- **2023-01** — Launched first capsule collection with Parisian label Soeur

## Links

- Website: https://leandramcohen.substack.com/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/leandra-medine-8a904414/
- Twitter/X: https://x.com/LeandraMedine
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/leandramcohen/

---

Profile page: https://yespress.io/leandra-medine
Published by YesPress — https://yespress.io
Last updated: 2026-04-22