Hello! I’m Crystal.

crystal-bell-writer

Another writer in New York.

I write about movies, TV, music, and fandom, and I have a keen interest and expertise in internet boyfriends, pop stars, stan culture, YA franchises, and K-pop. You may call me a professional stan.

My hobbies include exploring niche TikTok subcultures, listening to the same song on repeat, recreating my favorite film scenes with watercolors, experimenting with glitter, and learning Korean (it’s a marathon, not a sprint).

“Crystal, I wish I loved anything as much as you love everything.”
— My former HuffPost editor, 2012

I’m currently a culture writer and editor for hire, and my work has appeared on Teen Vogue, Paper Magazine, Allure, NYLON, The Huffington Post, and more. I write profiles, reported features, interviews, essays, and cultural criticism — I watch everything (seriously) — but my sweet spot is the intersection of pop culture and fandom. 

I was previously the Entertainment Director of MTV News, where I led content strategy across editorial, video, and social media, and I developed and produced original video series and successful franchises. In addition to having an encyclopedic knowledge of the Fast and the Furious franchise, I know how to cultivate young, passionate audiences and foster engaged online communities. I study stan culture and can tell you everything you need to know about emerging stars and trends. I may not be a teen anymore, but a lot of the content I’ve produced speaks directly to the young people driving culture and trends today.

I’m especially interested in telling stories about fandom because I love talking to people about the things they love. I also spend a lot of time admiring the work of Greta Gerwig, recommending anime to strangers (I’m a nerd), thinking about Timothée Chalamet’s hair, and explaining K-pop to anyone who will listen. And yes, I take awards season way too seriously.

I graduated New York University with a degree in Journalism in 2011. And I haven’t left New York since. (Please don’t make me get my driver’s license.)

I’m @crystalbell on Twitter.