Maryam Parkar is the Co-Editor-in-Chief of New Wave Zine and a journalism student who loves telling stories that feel honest, human, and full of heart. She’s especially drawn to arts, culture, lifestyle and women-centred narratives. Interviews are her favourite part of being a journalist—she thrives on meaningful conversations with people who bring new perspectives into her world. As a mixed-heritage woman of colour, Maryam is passionate about uplifting underrepresented voices. When she’s not juggling deadlines, she’s journaling, exploring bookstores, wandering through nature or spending time with her favourite people.

Lucy Kebirungi is a journalism major dedicated to amplifying marginalized voices and using storytelling to highlight underrepresented narratives. Their work reflects their commitment to advocating for justice and equality while staying deeply connected to their creative roots. Beyond writing, Lucy is inspired by their love of music, photography, and film, which they believe are powerful media for storytelling and cultural expression.

Aditi Roy is a journalist in downtown Toronto who loves writing features and reading obscure biopics and is a soon-to-be tea sommelier. She enjoys long walks in reasonably decent weather, which never seems to happen in Toronto, as well as watching indie movies that make her feel "different."

Ayla Maxwell is a second year TMU Journalism student from Vancouver, BC. Passionate about freedom of information and access to education, Ayla hopes to make important topics accessible and easily digestible. She loves the intersection between journalism and literature (she can talk your ear off about it) and hopes to one day go into archival studies. Ayla aims to approach journalism through an intersectional lens with a focus on harm reduction, Ayla puts a lot of care into her stories and the ones she works on with others in an effort to make people feel seen. In her free time, you can catch Ayla at the reference library doing some good archival research.

Keesha is a third-year journalism student at Toronto Metropolitan University, with a minor in public relations. Originally from the Prairies, they moved to Toronto to deepen their storytelling practice and immerse themselves in the city's cultural landscape. As a journalist, Keesha aims to bring a sharp, thoughtful lens to women's health, wellness and arts reporting. They are committed to translating complex topics into honest, engaging narratives. Their core values as a journalist are integrity, accessibility, awareness and intention. After completing their degree, Keesha plans to pursue graduate studies and will be the first woman in their family to do so. Outside of journalism, they can be found baking oatmeal cookies, reading a new essay collection or playing Kaiser with friends.

Syraah is a third-year criminology student at TMU, minoring in Cyber Studies, with a wide-ranging interdisciplinary focus that includes literary criticism, politics, international law, and intersectional feminism. Her academic background equips her to approach complex issues with rigour and insight, particularly in cybersecurity, where she focuses on how technology shapes women’s experiences, addressing digital safety, online harassment, data privacy, and the underrepresentation of women in tech. She bridges the gap between technology, law, and social justice, highlighting how digital systems can both empower and marginalize women. An active writer, her insights can be found on Her Campus, where she explores cultural, political, and social issues with a critical lens. Looking ahead, she hopes to further her education to deepen her understanding of these issues and advocate for safer, more equitable digital spaces. Outside of academics and writing, she enjoys working out and spending time outdoors.

Tamanna Gera is a passionate journalist and creative storyteller with a strong interest in photojournalism and feature writing. She is deeply interested in culture, history, social issues, and digital media, and loves exploring how storytelling can drive real-world and meaningful change alongside stories that have yet to be discovered. Outside of journalism, Tamanna is a passionate dancer at heart and enjoys expressing herself through movement. She loves discovering new music, new stories to read, new places to explore, and new sights to capture through the camera that is always with her. She is known for working best in the middle of the night, where creativity truly comes to life.

Aisha Duldul is an Ethiopian-Canadian writer and student journalist at Toronto Metropolitan University. Aisha is someone who has always been passionate about storytelling, and enjoys diving into stories that connect people, spark meaningful conversations, and shed light on underrepresented perspectives. Her work has been featured in multiple publications, for either girlhood articles, or topics related to cultural identity and politics. Aisha focuses her work on women empowerment, addressing uncomfortable and underrepresented topics, religion, and race. When she’s not chasing stories or editing drafts, you can usually find her curled up with a book or brainstorming and creating new designs for her henna business. Some of her hobbies include watching corny rom com's, journaling, and trying new foods!

Ella Silverman is a Copy Editor at New Wave Zine. She thrives off work that pushes boundaries and bends genres. Ella strongly believes in the power of literature and news media to give voice to the voiceless and shine light on important social issues. She is also a writer herself, specializing in poetry and creative nonfiction. When not writing or editing, Ella will most likely be found drinking an Americano in a downtown coffee shop, watching reality TV, or attending a drop in dance class.

Annabelle Locke is a Social Media Representative at New Wave Magazine. With a strong interest in reading and writing, she is passionate about storytelling in digital spaces that centers curiosity, creativity, and care. Originally from Newfoundland and now living in Toronto for school, her perspective is shaped by movement, community, and an attention to both place and people. Through her work, she aims to amplify thoughtful, boundary-pushing narratives and foster online spaces that invite engagement and meaningful conversation. When she’s not creating or curating content, Annabelle can usually be found reading, writing, or drawing inspiration from the city around her.

Hannah "Pixie" Clinton is the Website Designer at New Wave Zine. She has a strong passion for digital design, user experience, branding, and creative storytelling. Pixie’s interest in design is driven by her desire to create visually engaging online spaces that bring stories to life. In their free time, you can find Pixie working on various creative projects of different mediums and taking in all that Toronto has to offer.

Sarah Bauly is the Co-Editor-in-Chief of New Wave Zine and a final-year journalism student. Her work is guided by a desire to empower women and create change through storytelling that reflects the world around her. Drawn to editorial spaces, Sarah is eager to pursue a career in fashion and beauty reporting. As an avid reader and poet, she finds meaning in language and hopes to one day become an established author. Outside of her work, she can often be found headphones on, lost in her favourite 80s hits, or exploring the city in search of her new favourite coffee shop.

Blaize Exeter loves all things arts and culture. Some would say she knows a little too much about the ongoings of the entertainment industry and not enough about geography. She also enjoys diving down extreme rabbit holes, indulging in a new obsession every three to six months. When she's not racing against a deadline clock, she can be found singing her heart out at a concert, freezing at the movie theatre, adding books to her never-ending TBR, providing extensive commentary on whatever show she's watching or talking about the political and economic state of the world with randoms at the bar.

Zaneb is a Features Editor at New Wave Zine— as well as an English and Political Science student at the University of Toronto. With a passion for journalism and print media, Zaneb is driven by storytelling and being open to learning about different opinions and schools of thought. When she's not writing or editing, Zaneb can usually be found going on long drives, watching and getting through her large collection of DVD's, taking photos on 35mm film, colouring, and spending time with her family and friends.

Sorousheh Salman is the Culture and Community Editor of New Wave Zine Magazine – a journalism student who loves sharing stories that uplift diverse voices who want to share what matters to them or the cool activities they’re up to. She’s an extrovert who thrives on meeting new people outside and inside of her community via experiences, creativity and unity. She believes that forming human connections is crucial to authentic and ethical journalism, where people have a safe space to share their stories and opinions on matters that directly affect them and those they cherish. Sorousheh is an international student who has lived in seven countries and has always found that kindness and respect go a long way to having meaningful conversations. When she’s not reporting, Sorousheh loves catching up with her family and friends, going on walks in the city and going into her room where she can read and write to herself.

Shaye-Love is currently in her fourth year of the Creative Industries program, moving through life with a story half-forming in her mind. She is passionate about creative writing that feels sincere and intimate, often dreaming up "romantic" narratives that subtly borrow from her own life—a memory here, a feeling there, blended into imagined worlds. She believes poetry is a bridge between people and a way to transform inner emotions into something softly understood. Language is both art and offering—she approaches every piece with patience, passionate about polishing words until they feel intentional and true to the writer's voice. She ultimately writes and edits with the hope that stories feel lived-in and luminous. Through careful revision and a deep love of expression, she works to create spaces where vulnerability is welcomed, and words linger long after the story ends.

Bethany is a writer at New Wave Zine, drawn to creative writing (such as fan-fiction,) reptiles, tattoos, and a good cup of coffee. Originally from Nova Scotia, she approaches all stories with an East-coaster curiosity, while aiming to uplift feminine experiences, especially those within the neurodivergent community. Outside of writing, Bethany likes running criminal empires in The Sims and taking care of her 7 pets.

Paige is a fourth year TMU journalism student, and storyteller at heart, with a passion for finding the threads that connect people, place, and power. She is especially drawn to stories that challenge the systems we’re told to accept as normal, as well as how sound, subcultures, and identity shape the way people move through the world. At the core of her work is a belief in storytelling as a form of advocacy, and how media can either challenge power or quietly reinforce it. When she’s not writing or editing Paige is probably listening to music, thinking too hard about lyrics, or spiralling into pop culture and internet deep dives “for research.”

Dania Daud is a student journalist with a sharp eye for detail and a deep love for writing. She's passionate about polishing pieces until they feel intentional and true to the writer's voice. When she's not editing or writing, Dania can be found journaling, watching sports (and getting way too invested) or baking. She loves exploring new places, whether that means hopping on a plane or discovering hidden gems closer to home. Dania is especially interested in writing about faith and stories that highlight misunderstood perspectives.

Liesl Korompis is a writer, content creator and graphic designer from Indonesia. With a passion for creating art and a deep-seated love for words, she pours herself into countless creative projects no matter the medium. You'll find different pieces of her life scattered through her band's songs, her poetry and her short-film scripts. When she's not overworking herself, you'll most likely find her curled up with a fantasy book, jamming with her friends or dancing with strangers in the club.

Sugey is one of the social media representatives at New Wave Zine. She has a deep love for films, editing and music. Sugey grew up in Peru and moved to Canada to study Media Production to follow her passion for storytelling and share narratives she feels connected to. Through her work, she wants to share the stories of the outcasts and people who sometimes don't have a voice in the media. In her free time, you can find her at her local theatre watching the latest movies, at home rewatching her comfort shows or visiting her favourite spots in the city.

Daamini is an illustrator at New Wave Zine. Daamini has a deep appreciation for nature, film, and literature, and has a passion for social justice and storytelling. She has a great desire to tell the stories of others and a keen ear for layered emotions and experiences that are worth mentioning. Through her work, she hopes to make others laugh, cry, and feel heard. When she's not drawing or writing, she can be found tending to her plants, on a hike, or at the movie theatre.