Fresh-faced and bursting with energy, the up-and-coming lifestyle journalist Othelia Joy Marwieh is steadily carving a lane for herself on the Liberian media scene. The 25-year-old former Miss Black Sacramento immigrated to the United States at the age of 11 and quickly adapted to her new environment thousands of miles away from her mother in Liberia.

Raised in the Sacramento area by her father, she attended college at California State University where she majored in Public Relations. However, it was because of an opportunity she was presented with to host an event that she realized her passion was journalism and communications. In 2015, that passion was fulfilled by the launching of her multimedia website OtheliaJoy.com.

The Bush Chicken sat down with Marwieh to learn more about her media outfit and her journey thus far in the industry. Having experience with public events including fashion shows, event hosting, and pageants, Marwieh knew that she needed to pursue her dream, which was to use her voice to bring attention to Liberians on the rise.

“It was a dear friend of mine, who passed away, by the name of Doeba Bropleh who told me I had what it takes to host my first event. He always encouraged me and believed in me, so without him I wouldn’t be here today,” Marwieh reflected on her entrance into the business. The goal of the website, she says, is to promote positivity and bring awareness to the things Liberians are engaged in.

The online show includes interviews with people from all industries and backgrounds, most of whom are Liberians, but generally, if a story is about promoting positivity, that is a topic Marwieh wants to cover. “The goal is to just show the rest of the world what Liberians are doing and encourage us as Liberians to support one another,” she explained.

What visitors can find on Marwieh’s show varies from interviews with musical artists, young people with extraordinary talent, politicians, business owners, fashion coverage, and much more. Marwieh said, “I have always been comfortable speaking to people and being outgoing, and my show allows me to use my voice to bring attention to what’s happening in our community.”

While the face of the show and the creative mind behind it is certainly Marwieh, her partnership with BeeAfrican.com has been instrumental in bringing her vision to the masses. The company, which manages and maintains her website, has also partnered with her to help produce an ongoing video series which will soon include a studio space to conduct talent interviews and other programming. “We are just in the beginning stages of what we want to do. Our plans are much greater than where we are today; it’s just the beginning, but I’m happy that the reception has been good so far,” Marwieh said.

Photo courtesy of Othelia Marwieh.

With Liberia’s Independence Day only two months away, Marwieh wants readers to stay tuned to the site for upcoming content and events she may be involved with for the holiday. “My first major hosting opportunity was with the local Liberian association, [of] which I was the youth president at the time. After hosting that event, I knew this is what I was supposed to be doing, so Liberian Independence Day is special to me for several reasons,” Marwieh said.

Having only seen her mother once since coming to the US, one of Marwieh’s dreams is to go back to the country her parents were forced to leave so many years ago and spend time with her mother. She said “Growing up in Ghana, spending time in a refugee camp I really never got to know Liberia besides that being my parents’ country. I would love to go there and experience the culture myself.” Born in Ivory Coast and raised in Ghana, Marwieh has ironically never had the opportunity to visit the country she works tirelessly to promote.

With Marwieh’s entrance into the field of journalism and media, the entertainment industry certainly has a burgeoning media maven to be on the lookout for. She can be reached via her show’s website, Facebook, and Instagram.

Featured photo courtesy of Othelia Marwieh