Carol Wright initially started NYOTA Magazine to build her portfolio and reach her dream of being a professional photographer. Outside that dream, she wanted to create a publication that gave a voice to the up-and-coming instead of featuring talent people often see on magazine covers. The name NYOTA (star in Swahili) directly ties into the magazine’s mission of featuring up-and-coming stars in music, fashion, and culture. While being a professional photographer is no longer Wright’s goal, giving diverse talent a platform will always be central to the publication.
Founder & Editor-In-Chief
Carol Wright is a graduate of American University with a BA in journalism and a minor in business and entertainment. At a young age, she became interested in telling stories through photography, eventually leading her to create NYOTA. Her passion for storytelling has allowed her to pick the brains of musicians, actors, and influencers worldwide.
Art Director
Nicole Cox is an American University graduate with a bachelor’s in Graphic Design. Nicole has a deep passion for the arts. From writing stories to painting objects that she observes in nature, she loves finding different outlets for her creativity. Thanks to her wonderful professors at AU, Nicole has found another passion in the arts and is currently pursuing a career in graphic design.
Social Media Manager
Sophie Wine is a social media manager who lives and breathes all things digital. Content creation has always been a hobby for her until she realized she loved doing it for other people. Now, she enjoys bringing fresh ideas to every project, promoting an engaged online community.
Graphic Designer
Jerusha Rajan is a current student at New York University. With a lifelong passion for music and the arts, she has always been drawn to creative expression, whether that be songwriting, sketching, or photography. Through her studies, she has found an interest in working closely with creatives and hopes to carry that forward to her professional journey.
Graphic Designer
Sadie Trainor is an undergraduate student at New York University, majoring in Media, Culture, and Communications, with minors in Digital Art & Design and Journalism. She has a deep passion for the arts and is dedicated to creating and designing work that reflects her personal values and identity.
Staff Writer
Eleanor Weber is a writer, artist, and current MBA student at William & Mary, based in New York City. She holds a BS in Anthropology from James Madison University, where she wrote for several local publications and discovered a love for interview-based storytelling. Now a staff writer at NYOTA, she’s passionate about music, curating creative spaces, and exploring sustainable, business-minded ways to support working artists and creatives.
Staff Writer & Copywriter
Sreya Nair has a passion for popular culture, entertainment, and the arts. Majoring in Media, Culture, and Communications at New York University, she aims for her writing to capture unique trends, to appreciate people doing interesting work, and to express her appreciation for today’s changing culture.
Staff Writer
Ananya Swaroop is a multimedia journalist currently pursuing her master’s in journalism at Boston University. Originally from India, she’s spent the past few years covering everything from pop culture and entertainment to lifestyle and travel. Her work often explores themes of identity, community, and belonging. Ananya loves experimenting with different formats—whether it’s video, audio, or digital—and is always on the lookout for stories that feel personal but speak to something bigger.
Staff Writer
Sandra Ictech is a Boston University student majoring in Journalism and minoring in Entrepreneurship and Innovation. She is passionate about communicating through diverse platforms and audiences and sharing her love of storytelling with English—and Spanish-speaking audiences. She has a passion for working in entertainment and working with those who have talent and a story to tell and share. She is committed to collaborating effectively with others and takes great pleasure in conducting interviews, aiming to understand people on both personal and professional levels.