Amber Raiken

Amber Raiken is the US Lifestyle Reporter for The Independent, based in New York City, where she has worked since January 2022. She covers pop culture, celebrity news, fashion, relationships, and TikTok trends, while also producing features on topics like dating dynamics and identity narratives. A 2020 Ithaca College graduate with a Bachelor's in Writing (creative writing concentration), Raiken honed her skills through campus publications like The Odyssey Online and Distinct Magazine. Prior to The Independent, she served as Editorial Assistant at Galvanized Media's Best Life, managing social media and writing health/fitness content. Notable works include her personal essay analyzing Eileen Gu's citizenship decision through an Asian-American lens and coverage of high-profile events like the Met Gala. Her reporting often blends cultural analysis with human interest angles, particularly regarding LGBTQ+ issues and social media phenomena.