New York is filled with creativity and culture. When you mix the two together, you get FOCUS, a magazine created by Festicia Bovell.
Festicia Bovell is the founder and editor-in-chief of FOCUS Magazine, a lifestyle publication that highlights Zillennial culture and the voices shaping it. Since launching, FOCUS has reached over 200,000 people across social media and generated more than 600,000 website impressions, becoming a growing platform within its niche. Alongside building the magazine, Festicia developed an impressive career in public relations, working as a senior account executive at Hunter PR on campaigns for brands like Ulta Beauty, Amazon, Meta, and Diageo. After several years in PR, she has now transitioned into finance, bringing with her a unique perspective that spans across media, branding, and business.
Festicia has worked in public relations and communications for the past four years while simultaneously building FOCUS Magazine. She has always loved the art of writing, reading, and has enjoyed telling stories for as long as she can remember. During her sophomore year of high school, she read The Bluest Eye, which quickly became her favorite book and changed her perspective on representation. It made her realize how important and valuable representation is, and how much it can impact the way someone views themselves and how people interact with one another.
She wanted to be a part of those connections and contribute to shaping them in a positive way however she could. At first, she considered going into journalism, but later decided to pursue a path that would allow her to develop broader skills and tap into different areas.
Festicia’s background in public relations has also supported the growth of her magazine. She has always been drawn to the magazine and editorial spaces. While studying public relations in college, Festicia also joined student media as an extracurricular activity, which sparked her interest in building and creating a magazine of her own. By her senior year, she became the editor-in-chief of the student media magazine, where she gained experience managing a team, crafting compelling stories, and understanding the connection between content and what audiences want to see.
PR has been a major asset to her skill set, especially from a business perspective. Throughout her career in public relations, she also learned how to leverage attention and strategically craft messaging.
Creating any kind of project requires everyone to be on the same page, and Festicia is very intentional when curating her team. She states, “I’m very intentional about the people I want to work with, the energy they bring, and how well they work with me and the rest of the team.”
One of the most important characteristics she looks for is the quality of someone’s resume and previous work. As a founder, she has to make sure that a resume aligns with the skills a person claims to have and that they truly qualify for the role. She also emphasizes that a portfolio doesn’t have to be a huge project, but it should show dedication, passion, and that someone took the initiative to start somewhere.
She also admires people who don’t use time or a lack of resources as an excuse for not being able to do or create something. Someone might not be editing a full film yet, but they can still edit a 10-second video that shows off their skills. Festicia also looks for people who demonstrate their abilities in unconventional ways. To her, that shows the hustle, work ethic, and openness to learning. As a founder, she has built strong values around the brand and looks for people who respect and align with those same values.
FOCUS Magazine is very vibrant and tells stories through its visuals and fashion. To create these compelling visuals that blend art and style, the team follows a step-by-step process to ensure they are clearly conveying the story they want to tell. During the brainstorming process, Festicia creates a mood board that helps guide the messaging and overall theme of the issue.
For the May issue, the theme was Partners and Culture, and the team wanted the styling to strongly reflect cultural expression. They intentionally selected vibrant clothing that represented that energy and identity. Festicia worked closely with stylist Kenya Sherron to bring that vision to life, carefully choosing patterns and textures that aligned with the visual message they wanted to promote, including a mesh-knit skirt worn by the female model, Skylar.
Festicia has built a strong career through her dedication and work ethic, continuing to grow across both media and business. When asked how someone can break into the fashion and media industry, she emphasized how accessible it has become to get started. She explained, “The great thing about where we are right now as a media collective is that you can pick up your phone and record anything and get started today.”
She also discussed how even small projects can be an important step toward building a presence in fashion and media. Starting with smaller ideas and consistently creating can help contribute to long-term growth in the industry. Festicia also highlighted the importance of finding different creative outlets and engaging in activities related to fashion and media that allow people to continue learning, experimenting, and strengthening their skill sets.
Putting yourself in spaces that encourage growth is also an important part of building a strong skill set and developing networking abilities. Festicia is constantly making connections, whether it’s at events hosted by friends or through partnerships connected to FOCUS Magazine. She is able to building authentic relationships while still maintaining professionalism. As she explains, “You can show up in a professional way and still be yourself.”
Festicia often follows up with people she has just met or engages with them on Instagram to show support and maintain meaningful connections that still remain work-oriented. She emphasizes that “networking is more than getting something from someone.” Instead, she encourages people to understand what they want in their careers, which will naturally guide them into the spaces where they belong. According to Festicia, the energy and effort you put into relationships is often what you get back. Taking opportunities that align with your goals while consistently putting in the work is key.
Ambition, a strong work ethic, and leadership can open many doors. Festicia has demonstrated this through her continued work building FOCUS Magazine, a platform that highlights culture and community. She continues to learn, wear multiple hats, and expand her skills while embracing the responsibilities that come with leadership. As her career continues to evolve, Festicia exemplifies through her work that she is focused on creating meaningful work that connects people through storytelling, expressiveness, and culture.
Watch the full video below: Mic’d in Style ft: Feasticia
