Zoë Bell

I'm a Canadian journalist based in London, UK. With bylines in The Globe and Mail, FLARE, Passion Passport, and more, I'm eager to write about travel, entertainment, mental health, social media. I completed my master's in International Journalism at City, University of London.

upday UK

'It's a bit of a wild west': Homes for Ukraine hosts take matters into their own hands

Russia's invasion of Ukraine one year ago triggered a major refugee crisis; millions of Ukrainians were displaced from their homes, flowing into neighbouring countries like Poland, Bulgaria, Moldova and Slovakia. In the UK, we watched from afar as Ukrainians fled their homes, walked for hours to reach border crossings and said tearful goodbyes to loved ones staying behind to fight. And in a small village in Cheshire, phones started ringing.
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upday UK

'The right to bear arms': why the US is stuck in an endless cycle of school shootings

Regular mass shootings are a uniquely American phenomenon. Here we take a look at the right to bear arms in the US and why tightening gun controls is so difficult.
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Published work

Filters & Sorting
The Globe and Mail •

Opinion: Reality TV offers escapism, but at what cost to contestants’ mental health?

Netflix has struck reality TV gold with its latest hit, Love is Blind. On this dating show that makes relationships on The Bachelor seem conventional, strangers have the option to get engaged, but must do so within just 10 days – sight unseen. After “dating” from adjacent pods, contestants finally see each other face to face once they have popped the question. Four weeks later, couples walk down the aisle. “I dos” – and in some cases, “I don’ts” – are exchanged. When the show began streaming o
Passion Passport •

Around the World in London: A Neighborhood Guide

London is one of the most diverse cities in the world. But sticking to the city’s major tourist hotspots can mean missing out on some of the city’s best cuisine, local markets, and nightlife. Neighborhood-hopping is a great way to experience London’s multiculturalism. While some areas like Chinatown are obvious and easy to access, others require traveling further afield. These areas are often less touristy and offer more authentic representations of London life. Use this globally inspired neighborhood guide to travel the world within London.
FLARE •

Why Are People Jumping On the #MessyTikTok Trend?

Users are sharing their relationship drama on TikTok—at the risk of looking like "the other woman" (or man) It has been a particularly messy month on TikTok. Beyond privacy concerns and threats of a ban in the United States, TikTokers are exposing cheating partners via the #MessyTikTok hashtag, a viral social media trend that encourages users to get personal in a very public way. Set to an original sound from TikTok user @Kr0yalty, first posted on August 31, TikTokers sing along to the lyrics