Welcome!! | Fangirl Forward #0

Get to know the publication ahead of the first official edition.

Welcome to Fangirl Forward, and to our very first edition.

Before the full issue goes out tomorrow, I wanted to set the stage for what this publication is, why I built it, and what you can expect from what we’re creating here!!!

Fangirl Forward is a publication and community at the intersection of fandom and the entertainment industry. It sits in a space I’ve wanted to see for years, one where fandom is treated as something intentional, influential and deeply connected to the future of media. As a lifelong fangirl, I’ve seen the joy, community and creativity that comes with caring deeply about something. Fandom has always been a cultural force, and this publication exists to document, analyze and celebrate that impact with the seriousness it deserves.

Engaging with fan culture for most of my life, I’ve also seen how it has evolved — for better and worse. That context shaped the purpose of this project.

At its core, Fangirl Forward exists to push fandom forward. We want to help fans understand the systems they participate in, help the industry understand the audiences it serves and highlight the ways fandom continues to influence pop culture at every level.

What We Stand For

Whether it’s helping fans turn passion into a career, giving creatives and professionals clearer insight into audience behavior, or providing context that makes fandom feel more understood, every part of our work serves the goal of pushing fandom forward.

Fangirl Forward exists to:

• Reclaim fandom as a legitimate foundation for skills and careers

• Challenge the stigma that loving something deeply makes you less professional

• Encourage the industry to view fans not only as consumers, but as collaborators, tastemakers and future leaders

• Build a community space that is inclusive, aspirational and respectful

• Support a healthier fan culture grounded in curiosity, context and connection, rather than competition and toxicity

• Provide insights fans and professionals can use to grow

Forward is our promise.
We push fandom forward by:

• Giving fans tools, language and confidence to turn passion into purpose

• Helping creators and companies understand what fans genuinely value

• Moving past stan culture and toward critical thinking, empathy and shared joy

• Celebrating the people, projects and ideas that make fandom meaningful

• Replacing cynicism with curiosity in every conversation about pop culture

What Makes Fangirl Forward Different

There are platforms celebrating fangirls.
There are early-career resources for the entertainment industry.
There are outlets covering pop culture news and trends.

Fangirl Forward doesn’t live in any of those buckets, it was built to fill the space between them.

Here, we blend:

• industry reporting and fan insight

• career guidance and cultural analysis

• celebration and critique

• community storytelling and industry literacy

And we do this across all sectors of entertainment: music, film, television, theatre, sports, theme parks, digital media, live events and everywhere fandom thrives. Fandom isn’t limited to one niche or industry, and neither are we.

Fangirl Forward is intentionally broad and intentionally diverse, reflecting the voices and stories that make fandom much bigger than any single artist, genre or generation.

You don’t have to be a die-hard stan or female-identifying to belong here… just curious, passionate, and open-minded. The word fangirl reclaims a label long dismissed, recognizing that the stigma often falls hardest on female fans. We move it forward.

We also balance joy and critical thinking. We want fans to grow, companies to listen and everyone to understand fandom with more nuance. Our perspective is always: What does this mean for fans? What does it reveal about the evolving culture? What can we learn from it?

Because of that, you won’t see celebrity gossip, general entertainment news or straightforward reviews here. Our work focuses on meaning, behavior, dynamics and the relationship between creators and the people who support them.

Our blend of reporting and commentary helps:

• fans understand how the industry actually works

• the industry understand what fans actually value

No other publication sits in this middle space. We’re the translator, bridge-builder and cultural interpreter. We’re not here to replicate what’s been done, we’re here to expand what’s possible. That’s how we move fandom forward.

What You’ll Find Here

Every other Wednesday, the Fangirl Forward newsletter brings you a curated mix of:

• interviews with fans turned professionals, or pros offering fan-centered insight

• notable fan-driven moments and trends worth watching

• lessons for fans developing their creative voice

• insights for professionals seeking to understand audience behavior

• opportunities, calls for pitches, events, and ways to connect

The publication also includes a full editorial ecosystem:

Forward Focus — longform essays, interviews, and cultural analysis exploring how audiences shape entertainment and how entertainment shapes us
From the Crowd — first-person reflections and fan perspectives from concerts, premieres, award shows, and festivals
FANFAQ — a practical explainer series answering the questions fans actually ask, with research or insight from people who know how the industry works

What’s Ahead

This platform is only the beginning. Right now, Fangirl Forward lives in stories, interviews and insights designed to move fandom beyond the stereotype. But this is only the beginning. As the platform grows, so will the ways we show up — online, in conversation, and eventually in spaces where fans, creatives and professionals can learn from one another in real time. I’m building toward something bigger, communal and tangible, and I can’t wait to share more when the moment is right. For more updates, follow Fan Fave Media on Instagram.

I’m so grateful you’re here at the start. Tomorrow, we officially begin!