Carissa Jean Mares
School
Northwest Film Center, Independent Publishing Resource Center, Portland Community College
Expertise
Entertainment Industry Gossip, True Crime, Political Science
- In 2023, Carissa turned her personal issues with a famous astrologer into her memoir, "The Breaking Zodiac Wheel," published on Substack.
- She has hosted Q&A sessions for small and large celebrities and filmmakers.
- Carissa is an emerging screenwriter who was lucky enough to be a Willamette Writers FilmLab cohort in 2024, getting to sit in an actual writers' room.
Experience
Carissa got her start writing professionally in 2020 while freelancing for a media and tech company. After working her way up to project manager, she opted to move across the country and get back to her writing roots. Carissa weaves her creative arts background into everything she does, from making zines to writing news articles. She joined Static Media in 2024 and can be found haunting downtown Petaluma, California.
Education
Carissa has a certificate in screenwriting from the Northwest Film Center, a certificate in Comics & Illustration from the Independent Publishing Resource Center, and happily dropped out of Pacific Northwest College of Art because they got rid of their color dark room.
Nicki Swift covers celebrity and entertainment news by way of an expert group of editorial professionals. We drive the conversation on everything from trending Hollywood news to star transformations, always striving to deliver the most compelling commentary, bolstered by quality expert opinions.
As we cover a wide breadth of pop culture, we're constantly reviewing, fact-checking, and updating stories to ensure they're accurate and current. Additional information on our editorial process available here.
Stories By Carissa Jean Mares
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Based on the dresses some stars wore to the 2025 Critics Choice Awards, lampshades are definitely in season. See this year's worst-dressed at the event.
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During the National Prayer Breakfast on February 6, President Donald Trump attempted to pay Donald Trump, Jr. a compliment, but it totally backfired.
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Rep. Lauren Boebert donned an unexpected outfit to witness Donald Trump sign some executive orders, but it's still causing major buzz.
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The 2025 Grammys brought out our favorite vocalists and musicians in full force, and while some totally nailed their outfits, others struck the wrong chord.
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Actor Ryan Paevey left behind his life as a Hallmark Channel leading man, and while he's grateful for his time in the spotlight, he enjoys running his business.
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Melania Trump always seems to execute her styling exactly the way that she wants to, which makes these outdated fashion flops even more mystifying.
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At the time of his death, Mark Salling was set to be sentenced for disturbing criminal charges. But his autopsy report was even more heartbreaking.
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Ariana Grande usually has a wickedly wonderful sense of style, but her journey down the yellow brick road has also included a few major fashion missteps.
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Kylie Jenner and Timothée Chalamet are young and famous, and their relationship is too, but they've tried to keep it somewhat private and limit their PDA.
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Melania Trump seems to be emulating the country class of Catherine, Princess of Wales, but few people seem to think the first lady can pull it off.
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Rumors that actor Jennifer Aniston and former president Barack Obama were, or are, involved are again flying around after Michelle Obama skipped recent events.
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American Idol alum Carrie Underwood and former hockey player Mike Fisher have been married for years, but could their relationship be on the rocks?
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Elon Musk could be on the outs with Donald Trump. So what might he have to gain by sending Ivanka Trump a flirty message on social media?
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While keeping an eye out for her ex Don Jr. during the inauguration festivities, Kimberly Guilfoyle wore a MAGA-red dress that was probably hard to sit in.
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Fox News personality Laura Ingraham doesn't seem to close her mouth much, so we asked a plastic surgeon if it could be the result of a facial procedure.
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There were never any signs that Kai Trump and her father's ex, Kimberly Guilfoyle, were particularly close, but things could be different with Bettina Anderson.
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Colorado congresswoman and Kid Rock fan Lauren Boebert looked ready to film an early season of "Keeping Up With the Kardashians" at Donald Trump's inauguration.
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Ainsley Earhardt and Sean Hannity are living in a situation that could ruin their relationship, and dating expert Susan Winter explained the consequences.
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Ivanka Trump dressed to the nines for her father's second Inaugural Ball, and eagle-eyed fashionistas noticed that her ensemble could have been a statement.
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Heath Ledger’s sudden death shook Hollywood, leaving the entertainment world reeling as his autopsy report unveiled some truly unsettling details.
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Los Angeles has been devastated by a series of destructive wildfires, and celebrities spoke out on what it was like to lose their homes to the crisis.
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Ben Affleck and Jennifer Lopez are respectively getting flak for their supposedly out-of-touch reactions to the wildfires affecting the Los Angeles area.
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Although Kimberly Guilfoyle and Donald Trump Jr. have split, it seems she's still going to be making a splash at inaugural events for Donald Trump Sr.
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Barack and Michelle Obama were last spotted together at a restaurant in December 2024, and it's drawing concerns from the public about their future.
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JD Vance's eyeliner was on full display for his inaugural portrait, but the future vice president claims he doesn't use the beauty product.
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What Wendy Williams said about her old nemesis Diddy in a new interview won't shock fans, but the interview itself, which included a major life update, will.
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One of the most tragic developments in Kelly Stafford's life is tied to her decision to have kids with her husband, Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford.