As UK executive editor, HuffPost produced its first month-long campaign celebrating and giving voice to women and men across the world – The All Women Everywhere and Building Modern Men. Poorna has since become an acclaimed writer, raising awareness on the negative effects of the media and society’s decline in mental health.
Poorna Bell is an award-winning journalist, motivational speaker, author, and influencer, who works extensively across women's journalism, women in business, fitness and strength, body image, wellness, mental health and is an advocate for diversity and inclusion. The former UK Executive Editor and Global Lifestyle Head for HuffPost, Poorna now works as a freelance journalist and editor for titles including The Guardian, Red magazine, Stylist, Grazia, Women's Health and the Daily Telegraph. She received Stylist magazine's Rising Star Award at their inaugural Remarkable Women Awards.
Poorna’s debut book, Chase the Rainbow, is a personal memoir of the story of one man’s journey with mental health told by the woman who loved him. Her second book, In Search of Silence was one of the winners of Red's Big Book Awards. Stronger, is part manifesto, part memoir inspired by Poorna's journey to find physical strength following her husband's passing, after which she became a competitive powerlifter. The book was named Sports Performance Book Of The Year by The Sunday Times.
Poorna also hosts See My Strong, a blog which champions stories of woman and fitness traversing all races, ages, body shapes and sizes, aiming to inspire and empower beyond the mainstream. Her first foray into fiction In Case of Emergency, hailed Stylist's book of the summer.
Poorna has acted as both a facilitator and guest speaker at mental health and wellness events, has been named as one of Balance magazine's top 100 wellness personalities and has spoken on mental health for the NHS and at the Global Ministerial Mental Health Summit. Trained in presentation at RADA, she has presented panel sessions, chaired conferences and spoken on a topics including women, mental health, physical and mental strength, imposter syndrome and resilience, and the faces of social media.
Her other areas of expertise include diversity & inclusion, the changing face of the digital world, how the online world is shaping debate around identity and seeking business solutions for audience growth.