Martie Bowser: The Culture Connector

 Martie Bowser is a storyteller, a bridge-builder, and a woman on a mission to uncover the connections that make Black culture thrive. From music PR to political journalism to immersive travel writing, Martie’s journey has been anything but linear, but every twist and turn has brought her closer to her purpose.

Martie’s introduction to PR was purely accidental. She didn’t grow up dreaming of media placements and press releases; she studied sports marketing and management with aspirations of becoming a sports agent. 

“I didn’t even know what a publicist was,” she admits. “I was in college writing bios for local artists in Charlotte. I convinced a DJ to play one of my friend’s songs, and word started to spread. Then I saw Samantha on Sex and the City and was like, ‘Oh, that’s what a publicist does?’”

And just like that, she was in the game. For nearly a decade, she carved out a space for herself in music PR. But the burnout hit hard, and when COVID shut down the music industry, she found herself at a crossroads. 

“I needed more than just music PR. I wanted to tell stories that meant something.”

Then, in early 2022, everything changed. Martie lost her mother to cancer. The grief was overwhelming, and her work in PR- so much of which was rooted in serving others- no longer fulfilled her. “I kind of lost that zeal of being at service for people. I needed a way to express myself without constantly being on call.” That’s when Martie found her way back to writing. In August 2022, she started contributing to Blavity, and within months, she was writing full-time. The shift wasn’t just career-driven: it was deeply personal.

Writing became her sanctuary, a space where she could process her emotions while amplifying stories that mattered. And her impact is becoming undeniable.

From Blavity to Ebony, Essence, Forbes, and beyond, Martie’s byline is becoming synonymous with cultural storytelling. She’s covered politics, pop culture, and entertainment, but her true passion is in travel writing- specifically, the intersection of travel and identity.

If Anthony Bourdain used food to connect people, Martie Bowser is using travel to do the same for Black culture. She doesn’t just write about destinations; she uncovers the threads that tie them together. She wants her readers to see how history, music, art, and Black identity intersect in unexpected ways.

“I love connecting things when I travel,” she explains. “Something I learned in Charleston might have a direct tie to a tradition in California…I want my stories to spark those conversations.”

Her goal is to make travel more accessible for Black travelers- not just physically, but mentally and emotionally.
“So many times, we hear ‘Black people don’t go there’- but why not? Sometimes all it takes is seeing someone like you experience it first.”

As Martie continues her journey, her vision is clear: she wants to expand her storytelling, blending immersive travel with culture and history in ways that feel personal and profound. With her new role as a Forbes contributor, she hopes to take readers deeper into the worlds of artists, musicians, and creatives who shape the places we visit. She dreams of crafting narratives that go beyond “best places to eat” lists and instead explore the soul of a city through the people who give it life.

From Martie’s New Orleans’ Mardi Gras Indians Represent The Connection of Culture article for Forbes

And through it all, Martie remains committed to representation- because seeing a Black woman in these spaces matters.

“If I see another Black woman somewhere, I know I can go. And if I can be that person for someone else, then I’ve done my job.”

Martie is redefining what it means to be a journalist, a cultural historian, and a traveler who tells stories with depth and purpose. Her work is a reminder that Black women belong everywhere- whether it’s in PR, journalism, travel, or wrestling arenas (yes, she’s covered that too!), our voices matter.

And as Martie continues to write her own story, one thing is clear: the world is finally paying attention.