Robyn Mowatt was born and raised in Orlando, Florida, so yes, she is a product of the Sunshine state. Half of her heritage is from Jamaica, with the other half Black American. As someone who grew up around people who rarely looked like her, her decision to attend Florida A&M University, the HBCU in northern Florida, was influenced by wanting to immerse herself in Black Culture and connecting to other Black individuals, an experience she missed out on while growing up. In Tallahassee, she spent her time at the university pursuing her bachelor’s degree in Broadcast Journalism and praises FAMU’s atmosphere for breaking her out of her shell and turning her into a social butterfly.

Her aspirations to write came early on. She was unknowingly training herself for a life in literature, spending much of her time writing in diaries about her childhood days. It wasn’t just her personal diaries that influenced her love for writing. Mowatt said she “grew up reading Ebony, Essence, Elle Girl, Teen Vogue, and Suede Magazine.” They enhanced her love for fashion, as did her time as a fashion coordinator for Diverse World Fashion, a publication at Florida State University started by photographer Emmanuel Sanchez-Monsalve. Several others contributed to her thirst for a career in fashion: her two biggest fashion icons, her mother Kim and grandmother Marva. The latter hails from South Carolina, which says everything about how well she carried herself (not to mention she is married to a pastor).

Many of her childhood summers were spent in Long Island, NY, with her twin where her grandparents lived and her parents met. The want for the city life is what brought her to NYC after graduation. Since arriving, her journey has taken her from Ebony Magazine to WWD, Racked.com, The Cut, Elle Magazine, and Hypebae to her current role as a Staff Writer at Okayplayer, a role that allows her to cover Black life, Black artists, and Black culture.

How’d you get your start in Fashion?

When I was in college, I aggressively applied to fellowships and internships in the city; unfortunately, I didn’t land any of those. By chance, one of my close friends knew someone at Ebony Magazine. I let her know I was having a hard time and asked if she could send my resume over to Jamilah Lemieux who was senior editor of the website. Believe it or not, she emailed me back right away. I moved to Long Island and immediately started interning at Ebony during Kierna Mayo’s reign as Editor-in-Chief.

It was not a paid internship, and I was okay with that; sometimes opportunities aren’t paid, and I was blessed enough to stay with my grandparents so I didn’t have to worry about the fear of having to pay rent. I ended up spending about five months there as an intern transcribing interviews. When the Ferguson riots were still taking place, I was working on a lot of that content and walked away loving it. From there, I went to now-defunct start-up publication Slant to work on social media and write trending news stories thanks to Kyle Harvey, who attended North Carolina A&T.

Today you’re a Staff Writer at Okayplayer. Tell me more about what you’re doing at this company and in your position.

For me, this opportunity came at the perfect time. I often think that I was hired in this role to provide a woman’s perspective on streetwear, sneakers, women in music, women in Hip-Hop, and R&B. I’m telling stories and introducing people to Okayplayer’s audience. I’m also injecting my opinions on the crazy moments that seem to take place around us daily.

You’ve been in New York City for six years. What are you hoping to achieve within the next five?

I plan to continue helping college students and young women who are aspiring to follow in my footsteps. Mentorship is important, and I want to see more people doing what I do. I hope to become a beacon of hope for the next generation.

I would love to know what motivates you to keep going, especially in such an unforgiving industry.

Honestly, I believe what keeps me going is that when you’re doing the type of work that I am, it has to be something that you really value. I wholeheartedly love being a writer, and I strongly feel that was the reason I was placed on this earth. It’s my God-given talent, and my family has been telling me that since I was a little girl. Truthfully, I wonder where I get my strength from, but I allow all of what I just mentioned to drive me. I wake up every day and say, okay, I’m ready; what’s next? My faith keeps me going as well; I pray a lot, so it all goes back to God putting me here to do what I’m doing.

You’re Black and working in fashion; how has that been for you?

It’s been a journey being a Black woman in this space. I battled with imposter syndrome. I’ve since outgrown that, but when I was an intern and fashion assistant, I often felt that I wasn’t doing enough when in actuality, I was probably going above and beyond. Being Black and working in fashion more times than not, you may be the only one or one of two, and it can become quite isolating. It can get sad at times, but once you make it in, hopefully, it motivates you to help and make room for other people coming after you.

After I left Elle, I was offered an opportunity at Hypebae, and between the environment and duties, I would have to say that was one of the most challenging jobs I’ve ever had. It provided a lot of opportunity from finally being able to attend fashion week and  market appointments. I was able to explore and write about content that excited me, which was writing about Black designers, so there were positives. Still, the position itself really took a toll on my body and mental health as it was a very demanding job.

Have you ever felt skipped over or left out of an employment opportunity because of your skin color?

Definitely. I’ve experienced a great deal of this in New York. I have gone on countless interviews, and there are many opportunities I feel I wasn’t offered because I am Black. After a while, I started looking at my Blackness as my superpower and saying that “if you’re not going to accept me for being who I am and for having an afro, then you aren’t deserving of me.” It took me a while to get to that place, though.

On the concept of inclusion, what are your thoughts on the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion efforts being pushed forward, and do you believe we’re seeing a real change, or is it performative?

Some of it is performative, but over the last eight to nine months, I’ve been quite pleased to finally see Black stylists, photographers, and Black creatives being embraced by magazines, ad agencies, and these cultural institutions. It’s incredible to watch these people get hired and exist in the spaces we have always been a part of.  Companies are opening their eyes and realizing they don’t have to keep using the same photographers or stylists. I’m watching these organizations and magazines that have made pledges, and I’m keeping my eye on these mastheads to see if the change they promised does actually happen. Watching Samira Nasr and Lindsay Peoples Wagner being appointed Editor-in-Chief is remarkable because they are really talented women. I want to see change at the latter half of the masthead too.

Since it is Black History Month, I would love to know what this month represents for you.

Love this question, but for me, Black History is 365 days a year. I don’t lean on celebrating different cultural figures or icons just in February. I’m always reading Black authors, supporting Black designers, and listening to Black music. I don’t wait until February to pull the Dashiki out. On my social media, I’m always posting all things Black.

Is there any ancestor of ours you wish you could’ve met and why?

James Baldwin, he was such a talent. His work really makes me evaluate where we’re at as a society right now. He’s one of our icons, and I truly respect him a lot.

How have you given back to your community through your power and positions?

I’m currently mentoring a journalism student and phenomenal writer who attends UNC’s Hussman School of Journalism, Ruth Samuel. Periodically I reach out to my professors at FAMU to check in with them and offer my help. I sat in on some capstones last semester, which was a full-circle moment. At the beginning of the year, I launched consultations for journalism students and early-stage writers, more information for that can be found on my website. Last year, I dedicated a lot of time to just talking and helping others understand how I got to the place I am now and how they, too, can do the same and carve out their own paths.

Are there any Black Designers known or unknown that you would like to bring to the CFDA attention?

Of course! Since I’m a bag girl, I have to mention Ciriaco, MadebyCiriaco on Instagram. I love what Kerby Jean-Raymond is doing with Pyer Moss. I’m intrigued with what Daily Paper is doing; they just released this Bob Marley collection that is really dope.

What are some of the things you think the CFDA should do to improve diversity and inclusion?

A mentorship or pipeline program would be excellent, starting at the high school level because the earlier, the better. Many schools in New York are tailored to what students want to do in life as far as a profession goes, and I think working with the schools that fall in the CFDA’s categories would be great.

What are you working on today and what are you most proud of right now?

The fact that I can wake up every day and write about Black life, whether it’s a feature on Black artists, Black Tech companies, Black brands I’m enjoying, or what I’m listening to, is amazing. I love that’s what my life has become. We should be the ones writing our history and stories; the fact that that’s something I’m able to do every day is an unmatched feeling. Growing up listening to this music, wearing the clothes and sneakers, and growing up as a Black person is an extraordinary experience. Now that I’m in a place where I can sit, write from memory or research, interview artists, and ask them about the songs I’ve enjoyed on their albums or their concepts really blows my mind.

IG (personal): @robynmowatt

Website: Robynmowatt.com

IG (business): @okayplayer