Robyn Mowatt: a Name for herself in the creative media industry
July 1st , 2026
Robyn Mowatt has known exactly who she’s wanted to be from a young age.
A native of Orlando, Fla, Robyn’s upbringing is a big part of who she is today. She grew up in a Jamaican and African-American household and says she was always able to explore who she was.
“I’ve just always been someone who is very curious,” says Mowatt. “From a young age, I loved reading, drawing, taking photographs, and documenting what was going on around me.”
Photography: Curt Saunders
Mowatt fell in love with magazines as a child, and her curiosity and affinity for reading and writing led her to Florida A&M University (FAMU) in Tallahassee, Fla. Studying journalism felt natural to her, but she also expressed that it’s been a calling she’s felt drawn to for years. “I recall enjoying and excelling in my English classes growing up, and so I think that [this path was] a great fit for me, especially with FAMU’s journalism program.”
In 2010, Mowatt hit the ground running at FAMU. Eventually, eventually she worked as a stylist at the award-winning Journey Magazine and later as a co-chair for the university’s homecoming fashion show. She credits FAMU for shaping her career goals and influencing her future. “Journey was the compass, but then I was also taking classes that influenced the work I was able to do in the past 10 years,” she said. “That includes taking an African Feminism class, a Civil Rights History class by one of my college mentors, Dr. Darius Young, and a few other classes related to film and culture outside of our journalism school.”
Although Mowatt was involved in many organizations at FAMU, she never lost her love of reading. She expresses that she also regularly paid attention to what was happening culturally in New York City, keeping up with publications such as The Cut, Saint Heron, and The New York Times.
She says her campus involvement in organizations like Her Campus, Big Sister Little Sister, a mentoring organization, and creating FAMU’s Toms Club has also played a major role in who she is today. Additionally, she built her creative craft as a Women’s Wear Director at DWF magazine, founded by Emmanuel Sanchez Monsalve, before graduating. Spearheading the beloved homecoming fashion show as a co-chair was instrumental in her professional journey, too.
Since relocating from Orlando to New York in 2015, Mowatt has held roles at Okayplayer, Hypebae, and ESSENCE, where she was previously the Senior Contributing Fashion Editor. She also has bylines in ELLE, Harper’s Bazaar, Nylon, Vogue, and many more publications. Her work centers around Black culture, identity, and entertainment. From highlighting unsung artists to showcasing African fashion designers, Mowatt says her background inspires her to tell stories about diverse cultures.
“I think it’s just intrinsic for Black people to want to tell their own stories. I also think because I am from the South, and also because I grew up Caribbean, I'm tied to wanting to express not just what I’m experiencing, but also editing and writing features on different cultures and what’s going on in cities throughout the world and throughout the country too.” She adds that covering film, costume design, and unsung R&B acts have been an integral part of her career.
As a Black woman, Mowatt's journey in media has not been linear. According to data from the Pew Research Center, Black people make up about six percent of the industry, and about half of journalists in the nation believe their newsrooms are not diverse enough. Mowatt has had her fair share of tough days in the industry, but says the community that she has built makes her work meaningful.
“I’ve gotten a lot of no’s over the years, but I stand pretty firmly on the fact that I am incredibly grateful for the community and the network that I have,” Mowatt recalls. “Some of these opportunities would not have come to me if I hadn’t had the relationship I had and had people who really believed in me and wanted me in the room.”
Right now, Mowatt is working as a Communication and Community Engagement Strategist at Florida Impact, a non-profit and serving on the Advisory Board of RAISE Fashion. She continues to highlight unrepresented communities in her freelance writing work while inspiring others. She said making a name for yourself is essential for getting into both the entertainment and journalism industries.
“Ensure that you are putting yourself out there, whether it’s in person or building community specifically where you live,” Mowatt shares. “I think beyond that, ensure that if you have published stories for notable publications, you are putting that work online,” she adds.
Feel free to check out and stay updated with Robyn’s portfolio through her website.