The Fashion Writer Who Walked Away From the “Dream Job” And Bet on Herself
Journalist Marjon Carlos knows the power of walking away. In 2017, Carlos walked away from her job as senior fashion writer at the world’s most famous fashion magazine — her former dream job, the one that famously, “a million girls would kill for.” But while Carlos’ life looked perfect from the outside, she says she was burnt out: emotionally, physically, and mentally. “Being a Black woman there was really lonely,” Carlos says. “There were days I cried by myself in a bathroom or empty conference room.”
The leap Carlos took by going freelance was a bet on herself, and it’s paid off well. Now, she’s one of the most sought-after journalists in the industry, profiling the world’s most famous celebrities and penning the kind of cover stories that trend on Twitter. And if her former work life felt lonely, Carlos has now built up a community around herself, especially on social media, where on her show Your Favorite Auntie, Carlos holds forth on the topic of the week, and offers what she calls “a message of enlightenment, warmth, dialogue, and catharsis.” And boy, do we need that right now.
Inspired by Carlos’ determination to carve out her own lane, live vibrantly, and show up for herself and her community, The Cut has partnered with SOREL to bring you her story. Read on for a candid talk with the unstoppable Marjon Carlos about how she built her career, how the fashion industry is changing and how it can do better, and how her style propels her forward.