McGee Philbrick falls outside the target demographic of her audience. She knows this.
The 30-year-old is just hitting her stride as the deputy editor of the Magnolia Journal, the namesake publication of Chip and Joanna Gaines’ home and lifestyle empire.
Its audience skews female and is about 10 to 20 years Philbrick’s senior.
No matter, Philbrick is a perfect match for her job.
“I don’t think my voice is that different from Magnolia’s, which has been helpful,” she says. The Gaineses’ Magnolia brand, based in Waco, Texas, is beloved by its millions of fans and imitated by a litany of competitors.
The day before Philbrick AB ’18 graduated with a journalism degree from UGA, she accepted a job offer as a copywriter for Magnolia’s creative team and didn’t look back. By 2023, she worked her way to her current role, serving as one of the editorial leads for the quarterly publication.
“My natural writing voice is more casual and conversational,” she continues. “What’s wonderful about working for Magnolia is that the company has so much heart, and it wears its values on its sleeve.”
If I can help someone tell their story, I want to serve and honor the person I’m talking to. I want to be someone who is casting light and hope and joy in people’s lives, so working at Magnolia makes sense for me.”
MCGEE PHILBRICK, DEPUTY EDITOR, MAGNOLIA JOURNAL
Philbrick could just as well be talking about herself.
The Acworth native began studying photojournalism at Grady but soon discovered that her passion was writing. She produced an impressive portfolio as an undergraduate, writing for national publications such as Runner’s World.
Midway through her senior year, Philbrick responded to a social media post from Magnolia advertising a job fair for creative roles at the company. At the time, all Philbrick knew of Magnolia and the Gaineses was through their flagship show, Fixer Upper. She and her mom watched Saturday morning reruns during weekend visits home.
Philbrick was one of the 5,000 or so people who responded to the post and was among the 30 invited to Waco to interview. At the same time, she had one eye on Runner’s World to see if a role would open up there. Not knowing which path to take, she prayed to God for guidance.
“I don’t care what happens; I just need you to open the door. Whatever trail you blaze, I will follow.”
Minutes later, Magnolia called with a job offer.
Philbrick’s first writing assignments for Magnolia were emails to subscribers, advertising vases and promoting cookbooks. Her first feature for the Journal appeared in the Winter 2019 issue. It was a profile about world-class women’s middle distance runner Gabe Grunewald. Chip Gaines had met Grunewald in Central Park; she later trained him for his first marathon. Shortly after that, Grunewald was diagnosed with a rare form of cancer, and Philbrick’s profile outlined her fight.
Grunewald did not live to see her story in print. It is a moving piece, revealing Philbrick’s versatility as a writer and the depth of her publication.
“Gabe is still one of my heroes,” Philbrick says.
If I can help someone tell their story, I want to serve and honor the person I’m talking to. I want to be someone who is casting light and hope and joy in people’s lives, so working at Magnolia makes sense for me.” –McGee Philbrick, deputy editor, Magnolia Journal
As deputy editor, Philbrick still gets to write some for the Journal, but mostly she shepherds the work of the other contributors. The Gaineses are not involved in the day-to-day production of the Journal, but they write for the publication, attend meetings, are hands-on with ideas and feedback, and determine and help interpret the one-word themes that guide each issue.
“The fall theme is ‘Embrace,’” Philbrick says. “It feels nice. You’ve had your time out during the summer taking risks and taking chances and enjoying the freedom. Now there is this feeling of wanting to come back home and embrace the familiar and the routine. It’s a neat creative exercise.”
While it’s true that Philbrick and many of her co-workers are younger than Magnolia’s core readers, she is fully aware of her role as a brand ambassador, and it is something she—yes—embraces.
“If I can help someone tell their story, I want to serve and honor the person I’m talking to,” she says. “I want to be someone who is casting light and hope and joy in people’s lives, so working at Magnolia makes sense for me.”
This story appears the Fall 2025 issue of Georgia Magazine.
