About me…
I specialize in the internet’s favorite obsessions—think internet boyfriends, global pop stars, stan culture, and K-pop—and I bring curiosity, context, and critical insight to every story I tell.
Outside of work, I’m usually exploring niche TikTok subcultures, catching live shows (preferably with glitter involved), watching anime, or steadily working on my Korean—because language learning is a marathon, not a sprint.
“Crystal, I wish I loved anything as much as you love everything.”
My work has appeared in Teen Vogue, PAPER, ELLE, NYLON, Glamour, W, The FADER, and more. I write profiles, reported features, interviews, essays, and cultural criticism—with a focus on the intersection of pop culture and fandom. I watch everything (seriously), but I have a particular affinity for stories that explore how and why we love what we love. I also cover a lot of K-pop.
Currently, I’m the Digital Culture Editor at Mashable, where I lead coverage of internet trends and digital spaces. Before that, I was the Entertainment Director at MTV News, where I oversaw editorial, video, and social strategy, developing original video series and building successful franchises along the way. I bring an encyclopedic knowledge of the Fast and the Furious franchise, a sharp instinct for emerging talent, and a deep understanding of how to reach and resonate with passionate audiences. My reporting on stan culture and internet trends is rooted in years of observing how young people shape what’s cool, what matters, and what goes viral.
Beyond that, I spend a lot of time admiring Greta Gerwig’s filmography, recommending anime to strangers, analyzing Timothée Chalamet’s hair evolution, and explaining K-pop to anyone who will listen—including my two cats, Howl and Sophie.
I graduated from NYU with a degree in Journalism in 2011 and haven’t left New York since. (Please don’t make me get my driver’s license.)