Interviews, runways, brand collaborations and exclusive parties make New York Fashion Week one of the busiest times of year for Michael Matthews ('22) and Laura Tarafa ('23).

As journalists working in the NYC magazine industry, Matthews and Tarafa quickly established careers post-grad in one of the most competitive industries and job markets across the globe.

Despite attending UNT at the same time, Matthews and Tarafa never crossed paths on campus. Today, they've found themselves a thousand miles away from Denton, just a few subway stops apart.

Tarafa is currently a digital commerce writer at ELLE magazine, headquartered at Hearst Tower, overlooking Central Park.

"I'm not just writing," Tarafa says. "It's a lot of going to events, meeting designers, seeing new collections and connecting with important people in the industry."

Neighborhoods away, in the West Village, Matthews is associate editor of Cero magazine and lives a house full of creative professionals – including some of his coworkers.

"It's like a creative commune," Matthews says. "We get up, and work starts in the kitchen, but we're all always travelling for different reasons. My work is honestly anytime, anywhere."

Still yet to cross each other's paths, Matthews and Tarafa are two creative and confident alumni swimming to the top of an endless sea of possibilities in NYC.

Crossing Ponds

Tarafa emigrated to California as a young teenager from North Finchley, a small town about an hour north of London. By chance, she fell for a lifelong Texan during her late teens and enrolled at UNT alongside her now fiancé, Matthew Daniel.

After finishing her bachelor's degree in design and applied arts -- specializing in management and marketing -- Tarafa was working in the cosmetics industry as a beauty advisor for Kohl's in Dallas.

Seeking a challenge, a different environment and better use of her skills, she began applying to opportunities in NYC -- and convinced Daniel to complete his degree online and come with her to the big city in the fall of 2024. She found a writing position at House Beautiful, an interior design magazine.

"I was eager to explore a new state and have always wanted to work in media with a particular focus on interior and fashion design," Tarafa says. "What better place to do so than the fashion capital of the U.S.?"

This spring, Tarafa started working as a digital writer for ELLE, the world's largest fashion magazine and media brand, where she focuses on cultivating brands and products to keep up with trends.

"With such a saturation of brands nowadays, it's hard to pinpoint what's truly special," Tarafa says. "I love helping women feel their best, empowering them with their purchases."

With industry experts, Tarafa uses her knowledge and experience to provide readers with a valuable opinion on ethical and quality products.

"I've worked retail jobs before," Tarafa says. "That's helped a lot with logistics. I can understand the background of what goes into commerce, especially when it comes to shopping online."

Creatives Connecting

Also a non-native Texan, Matthews was born in Los Angeles and bounced around with family to cities like Atlanta and Chicago before settling outside of Houston for high school.

Matthews spent his free time as a teenager participating in drum corps and color guard, putting UNT on his radar after competing at the university and loving the community in North Texas.

"I moved to Denton for the proximity to that world," Matthews says. "When I was a student, I remember UNT having an intense commitment to inclusivity and sustainability."

In 2022, Matthews graduated with an integrative studies bachelor's degree from the College of Liberal Arts and Social Science, specializing in LGBTQ studies, geography and broadcast journalism.

Matthews spent countless hours in college as a desk anchor for North Texas Television (ntTV). He was able to gain experience in writing scripts, producing and filming, which led to him fully discovering a passion for developing stories.

With Phyllis Slocum, media arts principal lecturer and manager of ntTV, Matthews studied abroad in London and experienced firsthand the broadcasting, film and theatre industries.

"A big theme during those five weeks in London was, you're going to work with high-profile people, and you're going to need thick skin,'" Matthews says. "When I worked the VMAs (Video Music Awards), a rapper was disgusting towards me. It shakes you, but shake it off."

As an upperclassman, Matthews began modeling with a Dallas agency and quickly began to get noticed. His final year of college was quite busy and after deciding the next step was to move to New York City, he started shopping around for new management based in the big city.

Matthews signed to Cano Management and has strutted in runways for clients including Neiman Marcus, GU, Romeo Hunte and Kevin Murphy. He also fronted the Maybelline Halloween campaign in 2024 and can be seen in Vogue pictured with fellow models Alex Consani and Myha'la Herrold.

It only took a few months of couch-surfing and subletting as a newer model in New York before Matthews noticed a copy of Cero on a friend's coffee table. Soon, he found himself talking to Jonathan Shia, editor-in-chief and founder of the Cero Collective at the magazine's fifth issue launch party -- and was offered an internship.

"I remember him coming up to me," Matthews says. "I was eating stale focaccia in the corner at the club underneath this Italian place."

The internship didn't last long as Matthews transitioned into an editorial assistant role, then assistant editor and now associate editor. Cero -- a nonprofit, bi-annual fashion magazine -- focuses on "spotlighting and celebrating creatives of all kinds, from established luminaries to the next generation of pioneers."

In his new position as associate editor, Matthews oversees events and brand partnerships. For his first edition in the role, he interviewed model and influencer Vinnie Hacker. He is also actively working to expand the publications' presence overseas.

For one of his first assignments with Cero, Matthews interviewed Tommy Dorfman -- a transgender author, activist, director and actress known for Netflix's 13 Reasons Why.

"Being able to talk about everything, from being queer to talent to writing, the world we're in … that made me realize that this is something that I wanted to keep doing," Matthews says.

In his ever-growing role, Matthews has interviewed notable names, including a recent feature on Louisa Jacobson, daughter of Meryl Streep and actress who made her debut in HBO's The Gilded Age.

"She felt very touched," Matthews says. "I really try to capture someone when I'm writing features. I give them a chance to say what they need to say, not just what their publicist wants."

The Foreseeable Future

In the city that never sleeps, Matthews and Tarafa never have a day off. When they're not working on stories for their magazines, they're busy creating their own.

In the coming year, Matthews will once again be crossing the pond in London as he returns to his musical, drum corps roots for four months. He'll be competing with the British performing arts group Mayflower and working remotely for Cero while overseas.

"I stopped doing color guard altogether, but it's a world I've always been in love with," Matthews says. "I would like to be forever involved with it in at least some capacity."

Tarafa, who lives on the Upper West Side, is looking forward to projects and new product launches while she grows her career with ELLE. As Daniel finishes his last class with UNT, they are planning their wedding and future in NYC together.

"I love my life, I love my team, and I have no plans to leave NYC for the foreseeable future."