About Moi

Hello! Welcome to my blog-turned-portfolio-website. There’s still a scattering of blog posts here and there, because I’m too sentimental to say goodbye to my blogging days.

I’m Madeleine Bourne. I’m a freelance lifestyle journalist who’s written for the likes of Cosmopolitan, ELLE and Refinery29, and I have a sharp eye for commercial and consumer trends. You can find my Portfolio over here.

I’m a born and bred Brummie, and graduated in 2019 from the University of Birmingham with a degree in English & Creative Writing and a long-held passion to get into the magazine journalism industry. Currently based in Bristol, I’m passionate about lifestyle trends, first-person pieces and horde every single magazine issue I ever buy. Here’s a bit about me:

I’ve had a love for writing since I was 9-years-old. I used to mock up my own copies of Girl Talk magazine after school, and wrote a highly astute fiction series chronicling the misadventures of a young girl called Crazy Maizy (misspelling intentional, apparently) to while away my free time. I clearly was a sociable little kid.

However, that love for creativity and that passion for writing has stayed with me since I was diddy, and I graduated from the University of Birmingham in July 2019 with a degree in English & Creative Writing and a long-held aspiration to become a magazine journalist.

Since then, I moved to beautiful Bristol to figure out how to make it in journalism. As a working-class journalist, I couldn’t immediately afford the bright lights and extortionate rental prices of London, and Bristol felt like another creative city that myself and my partner could realistically afford to set up home in. I pursued an on-the-side marketing job and kickstarted my journalist reality with freelancing. The aim was to move to London in September 2020 because that’s where the magazines are – but then the pandemic hit. So, here we are. I am incredibly lucky that throughout 2020 and into 2021 I have gained opportunities to continue growing my freelance journalism work from Bristol. The London move might not be quite yet possible, but, suddenly, the world of journalism was. From my desk aka dining room table aka in the living room of our 1-bed flat in Bristol.

I’ve been commissioned for the likes of Cosmopolitan, ELLE, Refinery29, Heat Magazine and more. You can find out more in the Portfolio section of this site. I’ve also carved a little space online for this blog, having interviewed celebrities such as Lewis Capaldi, Nina Nesbitt, Frank Carter & The Rattlesnakes and more, and I’ve worked with brands such as Dior and Neon Rose.

Currently working as a freelance junior writer & editorial assistant for Hearst Magazines, every single week I’m continually gobsmacked that these are words I get to attribute to myself. I’m hugely passionate about lifestyle & entertainment content, taboo-busting pieces and digital storytelling, and have experience across many facets of the media landscape: digital & print journalism, branded content, marketing and social media. Oh, and I’m also partial to a funky outfit, so shopping and style is very much also where I’m at.

If you’re interested in working with me, please pop me an email on bourne.madel[email protected] – and don’t forget I’m also on Instagram at @maddiemae_xo.

Thanks so much for stopping by – don’t forget to check out my Portfolio here!