From Teenage Zine to Digital Dream: How StarShine Magazine Became a Platform for Rising Stars

By Sandy Lo

When I launched StarShine Magazine in 2001, I wasn’t thinking about algorithms, ad revenue, or going viral. I was 18 years old with an AOL account, a dream, and a deep love for storytelling.

StarShine began as a humble email newsletter — a DIY zine I compiled the summer after graduating high school. It was packed with artist interviews, music news, and pop culture commentary. I sent it out to fellow fans and emerging artists who, like me, just wanted to feel seen — and maybe, just maybe, break into the entertainment industry one day.

Back then, I had no media training, no industry contacts, and definitely no roadmap. I wasn’t launching a company. I was simply looking for a creative outlet — something that would push me beyond my comfort zone and closer to the world I admired from afar. What I did have was passion. That passion fueled my drive to build something out of nothing — one article, one connection, one interview at a time.

In those early days, I landed interviews with then-unknown artists who would later become household names. One of my most surreal experiences was interviewing a young Taylor Swift. I didn’t know she would become a global superstar — I took the interview as a favor to her music manager. But that’s the beauty of those early days: I said yes to opportunities, followed my instincts, and treated every rising star with the same level of respect and enthusiasm I’d give a chart-topping act.

Over time, I started to build relationships — with publicists, artists, managers, and readers. Slowly but surely, my little AOL zine gained credibility in the industry. It evolved from a passion project into something more. The zine became a website. The artist write-ups became official press features. The dream started to feel real.

There were unforgettable highs. I interviewed celebrities I grew up idolizing — from the Backstreet Boys and Aaron Carter to Hilary Duff and Jessica Simpson. I got to walk red carpets, attend concerts as press, and connect with readers who loved the same music and stars that I did. But there were also plenty of challenges. Website crashes. Burnout. Rebranding growing pains. And moments I seriously considered shutting it all down.

But something always pulled me back.

In 2020, during the chaos and isolation of a global pandemic, I realized just how much the world — and I — needed light, inspiration, and connection. StarShine quietly returned with a soft relaunch, serving up hope and creativity when it was needed most. Now, in 2025, it’s back in full force — redesigned, reimagined, and recommitted to its core purpose: being a platform for dreamers.

From day one, StarShine has always championed rising talent — the unsigned artists, the indie actors, the creatives who are grinding behind the scenes and pouring their hearts into their craft. We don’t just spotlight fame; we celebrate passion. And I’ve come to realize: I was — and still am — one of those dreamers, too.

That said, StarShine doesn’t leave out the established stars either. We believe in celebrating all phases of the journey. In fact, part of our magic is pairing the unknown with the well-known. In one issue, you might discover a brand-new artist and find them featured alongside a pop icon. We’ve seen readers become lifelong fans of emerging talent just because they were introduced in the right moment, on the right page.

What sets StarShine apart even more is how we bridge the gap between fans and their favorite stars. Over the years, we’ve held surprise contests and giveaways that have led to unforgettable moments — like an artist calling a fan directly, or answering a fan-submitted question in a published interview. We believe in giving back to the people who fuel the industry: the fans.

If you’re reading this and you’ve got a creative fire in you — maybe it’s a song, a script, a book, a business idea — let this be your sign. Start small. Start messy. Start anyway. Because you never know what your “AOL zine” might grow into.

Want to see the new era of StarShine? Check out the latest issue at starshinemag.net and follow us on Instagram @StarShineMag.

Originally posted in StarShine Magazine. Discover more entertainment features at StarShineMag.net!

Follow me + all of my projects on Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, and X: @AuthorSandyLo.

Check out my Author Website and Blog: SandyLo.com.