My name is Katrina Emanuele, and I am a senior at Chapman University, majoring in Communication Studies. This past semester, I had the incredible opportunity to intern with Beach House Public Relations as a Public Relations Intern. This experience not only gave me a firsthand look at the beauty and lifestyle PR industry but also allowed me to apply what I’ve learned in my coursework here at Chapman to a real-world setting.

I first discovered Beach House PR through connections I made during previous internships in fashion, beauty, and entertainment. I was eager to gain experience specifically in beauty-focused PR to better understand how it differs from other industries and pursue one of my interests. Determined to get my foot in the door, I took the initiative to research the company and reach out to employees on LinkedIn and CareerShift, expressing my interest in any available opportunities. After months of no response and nearly giving up, I finally heard back from the internship coordinator, and I was thrilled when that persistence led to an offer to join the team.

Some office work!

Throughout my internship, I gained hands-on experience across a variety of tasks. I contributed to building targeted media lists, drafting creative pitches for clients, competitor analysis, press clippings, and compiling press coverage reports for clients. These responsibilities gave me a deeper understanding of the fast-paced agency environment and the strategic precision required to elevate beauty brands in such a competitive market. I’ve learned skills through this internship that have prepared me for my future career in the Public Relations Industry, and I’m incredibly grateful that I had this opportunity to well prepare myself for what’s to come!

One of the most rewarding parts of this internship was being able to apply what I’ve learned at Chapman University. My Influencer and Social Media Marketing course with Matt Prince was especially relevant, as we heard from industry professionals at top brands like Sephora, Oakley, and Disney. One guest lecture that really stood out to me was from a marketing manager at Sephora. She shared what a typical day looks like in beauty marketing, and her insights into the behind-the-scenes of the campaigns she’s worked on, and there being something new and exciting to work on every day, truly inspired me to explore a similar career path. I learned that working in the beauty space opens up so much room for creativity, and it was exciting to see this to be true during my internship!

One of the biggest takeaways from that class was the importance of networking, specifically, not being afraid to reach out to people on LinkedIn. That advice stuck with me, and it’s ultimately what helped me land this internship. It was so exciting to take what I learned in the classroom and apply it in the real world, and even more rewarding to see it actually make a difference.

The biggest piece of advice I can give to other students looking to pursue a career in PR is to try out different industries to see what you are most interested in. There are so many opportunities spread so widely across different industries, so I’ve found that while in college is the perfect time to experiment with your interests and diversify your experience. For me, that meant exploring fashion, entertainment, and beauty, and it was through those experiences that I realized how much I enjoy the beauty space. Interning at Beach House PR really helped me figure that out, and it gave me a new level of confidence and excitement about where I see myself going in the future.