True Life: Miami PR Girl

don't even look at the date of my last post. i know it's been crazy. i moved to miami mid-january and it's already july (ahem) #MBFWSwim Week 2014 to be exact. so i will take a little lunch break and write a little update post on my PR life to talk to you my interview process and a little about what i am doing now.

back in january i noticed some pretty good job opportunities on linkedin and mediabistro. however, unlike NY, Miami would offer 2 new job opportunities per week compared to NY's 20-40 per week. i also noticed none of these fashion/lifestyle pr agencies post their job opportunities on these sites but on their facebook fan pages. in that case, i called them all to ask for the right HR contact to send my resume to and emailed them all immediately. thanks to NY, my internships and freelance clients - my resume is not too shabby and within my 1st week of being in miami, i had 8 interviews lined up.

long story short, i was able to secure freelance work with 2 pr agencies and my previously NY agency allowed me to work with them remotely for a few weeks. all was working out perfectly meanwhile i interviewed for the 'perfect full-time' job.

so what happened? after numerous interviews i was turned down for 'too much fashion' or because they were a 45-1 hour commute and wanted someone closer to the office.

right before my current job. i gave a random pr firm a chance. it worked out for 1 day. the owner, offered me the job on the spot and they were only my 3rd interview. and i declined. a month later, i was still looking and she called back again with the offer. since i hadn't found the 'perfect full-time' opportunity, i decided to give them a chance. why was i so hesitant? 1. it was only my 3rd interview 2. i found a rip-off report 3. a couple contacts told me not to work for them. 4. my gut kept saying NO! (you have to follow that gut feeling!) that one day, i 'worked' was a complete shit storm. whoa! never ever did i experience such terrible vibes, presentation, ambiance and much more. and i don't need that in my life and for my pr rep. before i left that day, i asked the team if it was like that everyday and they just looked away...it was very sad. i'll spare the details and would just like to say: no good pr person should work there. i wouldn't even recommend this agency to my worst enemy.

thank God, the day before this, I went on an interview with a beauty school. after 4 interviews, i've been chilling as their new pr, social media and events coordinator. i'm happy, work with an amazing events team, great schedule and fun events.

now i must go...my hair & makeup team and i will be killing #MBFWSwim and tonight is our first event with Miami Magazine .... yeppp, not too shabby.

Good Luck to all the Miami PR girls in the making!

My Top 5: 2013 Moments

Top 5: Nicaragua Diseña 2013

so much work, drama, talent, and fun. one of my favorite projects and a growing design incubator that will surely keep getting bigger and better each year. 

Top 4: Shantall Lacayo

this year we participated in events and meetings in Panama, Dominican Republic, New York, Mexico and obviously Nicaragua. it will take many more years to get to where we want to go...we are constantly inspired by Karl Lagerfeld's insatiable drive of ever changing work and in my case, women like Jenna Lyons and Aliza Licht inspire me to stay focused.

Top 3: Pre-Fall 2014 - Chanel

Honestly, I don't understand the negative hoopla around this collection. I don't identify myself as a potential Chanel customer but I appreciate the Cowboy/Indian inspiration and their outrageous set. I'm sure I can find a budget friendly high neck prairie blouse somewhere...

Top 2: Queen B

All hail 'Yonce and her dope album.
'Nuf said.




TOP 1: Me, Myself, and I

Despite losing my best friend to a drunk driver in New York in July. I returned to NY with a heavy heart in August after ND13 for SL's first NY show. While my bff's mom and brother wished me well, they also wished me safety. I was afraid and felt alone. But I kept my head up and worked hard - because I know she would have wanted that. She never wanted me to give up - more over, be happy. And NY in some twisted way made me happy. The hustle & lights motivate me to keep going and shine on - from the quick steps New Yorkers take everyday to and from work in chilling weather, to running along the Hudson and leaving it all behind for a drink or two at happy hour at the irish pub next to the office building. I have no doubt I'm built to make it in NY but I can't stop to think, Family First. Although, I was offered a temp job late Sept. and was given the chance to experience food, wine and spirits public relations - I'll be taking my talents to South Beach to be closer to home & family. I live and love my life but I love my family even more. 2013 gave me strength .... I wonder what I'll get in 2014.

Internship: Shantall Lacayo PR intern - Nicaragua

Buscamos una pasante temporal en Managua, Nicaragua para el 15 noviembre 2013 - 30 noviembre 2013. La persona asistirá nuestra Gerente de Relaciones Públicas, Alicia Rivas vía email y Skype, ya que ella se encuentra en NY. La persona también asistirá el equipo Shantall Lacayo en Nicaragua para 2 eventos especiales.

Responsabilidades:

- coordinación de eventos, pasarelas, casting de modelos, conferencia de prensa

- coordinación de medios, lista de invitados VIP, 

- crear nota de prensa, alerta de medios, lista de contactos, avisos, kits de prensa,

- revisar el estilo, ortografía y redacción de cualquier documento que se requiera para la marca

- agendar reuniones de briefing

- agendar entrevistas de Shantall Lacayo

- buscar alianzas comerciales, patrocinios o cualquier trato que pueda beneficiar a las marcas 

Requisitos:

- estudiante o profesional en comunicación, relaciones publicas, mercadeo, periodismo

- interés en moda, diseño, eventos especiales

- excelente redacción y comprensión de lectura

- conocimiento del ingles (preferible)

- conocimiento de Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, Outlook, Google Docs

- contactos con los medios nacionales (preferible)
- gusto por trabajar en equipo

- capacidad de socialización

- capacidad para tener conversaciones directas

- ser una persona segura, organizada, positiva, detallista, respetuosa que trabaje bien bajo presión

Enviar:

- Curriculum Vitae (CV): 1 hoja en formato PDF *

- Carta de Presentación: 2 párrafos en el cuerpo del email explicando porque serias perfecto para esta pasantía. También incluir tus 3 revistas preferidas, 3 blogs preferidos y 3 diseñadores preferidos *

·      El CV de mas de 1 hoja y la carta de presentación de mas de 2 párrafos no serán revisados!

·       Email: rrpp@shantalllacayo.com

Contact: Me

why lifestyle? my past, current and future clients might be fashion designers and stores but i'm also fluent in beauty, hospitality, and art trends. my mission is to inspire refreshing new lifestyles to your everyday.

True Life: I am a PR Girl

so in case you are new to this blog or noticed my beatricecatchesfashion.blogspot missing - i wanted to share my story once again as i am going through another career changing move. 

< i decided to delete beatricecatchesfashion.blogspot because i wanted to bring beatriceitaliana back and reincorporate my stories. the reason i like to share my story although sometimes it might be too personal, is because i do receive emails asking for fashion school and public relations information and advice. sometimes i might cut the person off and immediately say 'that's not exactly advice you are asking for but PR consulting instead and i charge for that'. however, most of the time it's general information n i am glad to help. just like the way i rely on nycprgirls.com for pr advice or explanations. > 

back in 2009 i decided to pursue a masters in fashion management at Polimoda.

and since 2010 i've been in and out of new york with a couple fashion public relations and freelance jobs under my belt.

however, the one name i've kept since 2011 is PR Manager or as the cool girls says, PR girl.

i started as a social media intern and quickly took over everything for emerging Nicaraguan designer, Shantall Lacayo. and it all started with an email to her personal facebook page on how i could help her and her brand. i had been following her brand since i was maybe 15 years old but after her stint on PRLA i knew i had to take her before anyone could.

and there we are. slowly but steadily making it in the business of fashion. this week alone in new york, we have conquered press, media and buyer interviews - oh! and fashion week at Dominican Republic. we have worked in Argentina, Nicaragua, NY, DR, Panama and our goal is set on Mexico and Miami next year.

perhaps on my own, its been tough. i've interviewed for the best PR firms, luxury brands, and independent designers but have only been able to secure freelance positions because i have "too much" fashion public relations experience or lack best friend media contacts (when in reality my pitching is awesome). but let me focus on the good - i don't want to rant on fashion or pr or the ny labor experience in today's post. - my point is. although it's been tough, i've hustled, gained experience in retail, customer relations and communications AND been through it all with Shantall.

we have made our brand presence known through international press and social media and even college seminars. i recently found out, a university in Nicaragua has used us as an example for their public relations students and i am beyond words. i don't doubt my work at all but it feels like a pat on the back and someone saying "u did good, u did really good".

being a PR girl is definitely tough. that's why i believe i am one in the making. i am truly proud of all my work and of the designer i work with on a daily basis. she motivates me to keep believing in my dream NY PR girl job and i motivate her to keep reaching for the stars. i don't want to let her go because i know we are both going places and we would definitely like to go together in order to be as influential as Oscar de la Renta and Erika Bearman.

thank you shantall lacayo!

[cheers]

here's to us conquering the fashion of business together. 

follow us on twitter ;)

@shantalllacayo | @aliciabeatrice

The Final Chapter: She Works in Fashion

 I started this blog back in 2009 for fun, for me, for my friends and family to join me through my application process for grad school, move to Italy, grad school in Italy and Italian life. It showcased my ups and downs in love, family, friends, and school. It was a public diary that was loved by many and hated (but secretly loved) by others. I never meant to hurt anyone or myself but sometimes that's exactly what it did.

It's June 2012. Its been 31 months. and my life has changed every 9 months. Thanks to the Young Executives Program at Incae Costa Rica, I decided not to attend Incae and get my Masters in Fashion Management in Italy. I spent an amazing 9 months in Italy, met an incredible group of international girls, and traveled Europe on my own. As amazing those 9 months were, Europe just wasn't for me and my Italiano was not perfetto enough for me to land an internship (either way internship season was during summer vacation and I much spent el verano mas feliz de mi vida con mis viejos). While my parents and I were lounging at my Florentine apartment overlooking Santa Croce, I interviewed via skype for what would now be my first public relations internship for Shout Social (now known as Sacasa Media). A start-up PR firm spearheaded by entrepreneur and now friend, Nazira Sacasa. Thanks to her, I moved to The City and began my adventure in Fashion PR. At Shout Social, I learned how to pitch, communicate with editors, learned the importance of paper presentation, and landed my first media placement for Essence. By the time I end this internship (which was for graduate school credit) it's December 2010 and I had been away from home, family and friends for a year. At the same time, Nicaraguan designer, Shantall Lacayo returned to Nicaragua after an exhausting little project called Project Runway Latin America. December was all about me asking my family for a little financial help in order to intern a couple more months in New York so I could land a decent job AND networking with Shantall. Fortunately, I was successful. My family supported my dream and Shantall read my email from thousands of emails to be her social media intern. Back in New York, I took a second public relations internship for my resume, an internship I think I have badmouthed a little too much but an internship that also taught me too much. I took a second internship because my resume compared to local FIT and Parson students was shit - and as the Social Media Director at my second internship said "pffffff you have a Masters? that means nothing in the fashion industry". She was right. It will give you a little VA-VA-VOOM but "can you pitch, be a bitch, and handle fashion pr?"  Factory PR taught me, the power of social media, the long hours you put in for passionate writing, top notch events, and media placements. They were the typical NY/Fashion/PR/Internship Nightmare/Internship Dream/Glitzy Side/Dark Side all wrapped in one! My resume now reads "head intern' because I was one of the few interns that stayed till 2am breaking down mannequins, boxing them, and carrying them to storage. I gave them sweat, blood, and tears all in the name of public relations - and I loved every second of it (well maybe 50 of those seconds, ha! you know what I mean). My term there, ended because of a fall-out I had with an undermining younger (paid) assistant who didn't know how to talk to interns. A few weeks later, a job was offered. but because of my own pride, it went down the drain. 

[Sometimes in life, things just have a funny way of working out]

Right around here, we hit the summer of 2011 and I am unemployed and anxious. My grad friends all have jobs but me. They all have jobs at Tom Ford, DVF, Gucci, Tommy Hilfiger, and I'm unemployed. I applied to jobs for about four months and decided I had enough and needed family. I'm not going to go into detail but around this time, my personal life changed forever and I ended up moving back to Nicaragua.

I tried not to drown in my sorrows, went to a couple prayer groups, made some new friends, traveled and kept busy with Shantall as her PR Manager. When I moved to Nicaragua, I always said, it would never be for more than a year. so I bought a ticket and moved back to New York, 9 months later. right before my move, I applied to jobs like crazy and once I was here, I had at least 3 interviews a week. it has been 2 months since my move to New York, it's now June 2012 and I landed a job in fashion! I am an E-commerce Marketing Assistant for ........ ;) I think I've shared enough. hehehe.

[Sometimes in life, things just have a funny way of working out]

thanks to my internships, Shantall, my family, my friends, and GOD I am right where I am supposed to be. I know I am! thank you all who have been on this journey with me. i couldn't have done it without you. it has been two years. two very long anxious, scary, tiring years. i seriously don't want to see my resume, mediabistro, or another interviewer for a very very long time. this blog has now come to an end. thank you. best, alicia beatrice. 

Some Dreams Test Us

Some Moments Change Us

Some Choices Stay With Us

FOREVER

[via the words movie trailer]

True Life: I was a Fashion PR Intern

I started this blog over a year ago to record everything I have gone through while on this fashion student turned intern journey.

Well I told you enough about school in Italy.
But I failed to tell you enough about my internships in New York.

I left Italy in September 2010 to New York, New York and because of freefashioninternships.com I was able to land my 1st internship ever (yes! first! ... I was 24 years old and I had never done an internship - what can I say its not really common in Nicaragua but highly common in New York and fashion). My first internship was at a start-up Fashion PR firm. At the moment, I had no idea what 'start-up' meant till I found myself sitting at a coffee shop everyday and eventually at a free workspace lounge (WIX in Chelsea) for creative 'start-up' companies. I was at this internship for 3 months because I NEEDED it (in all sense of the word need) .... to receive my diploma and have actual Fashion PR experience. Let me remind you I have a B.A. in Finance and now a Masters in Fashion Merchandising & Management - and in all of this just 1 class in Public Speaking, Writing I, and Fashion Public Relations. It's really not enough. My work background has been in Hospitality Management - again, not enough - NOT enough at all for New York.

So about this 1st internship - till now can I actually say how important it was to me. Because I worked side by side with the founder everyday ( 5 times a week; 10 - 5pm ) - she taught me everything! I wrote a press release, pitched to editors, called store buyers .... I really got a gist of communications.
There were moments where I thought "OMG! My butt hurts from sitting at this coffee shop, I am spending so much money, and I feel like am doing the same thing everyday".

SO what did I do??? ..... Well I talked to her and asked her for a little more work or different work. That way I wouldn't get bored. As for the coffee shop and spending, I couldn't do anything about that. It's a start-up and well there is no office and even if there were an office, I'd be sitting down all day anyways!! and you gotta try to pack that lunch!! that way you don't spend on $5 small soups everyday!

But like I said, at the end of the day - I believe that internship was one of the best decisions I had ever made. SO if you have a chance to work at a very small fashion company - I say GO FOR IT, you can learn a lot more. 

Timeline: 
Fashion School in Italy (Jan 2010-Sept 2010) - Fashion PR Internship in NYC (Sept 2010-Dec2010)

During my 1st internship, of course I was applying to jobs. Did I get any interviews? NOT AT ALL!
Right before I left my first internship my boss showed me resumes of the prospective interns - these kids were only 19, 20 and had 3, 4 internships under their belt! and now I was 25 and only had 1 fashion internship. Yeah, I've had 2 real jobs but again that's just not enough for NY and fashion. SO I headed home, with my head down to talk to my parents on giving me more time to be able to find this dream job. Having an amazing support system is fundamental!! Fashion is a bitch and she can rock, swing, and kick punch you in the stomach - and the only reason I got up every single time is because of my family, friends, and God.

God only put us in the life we are in now because he knew that we would be strong enough to live it.

Therefore, before the holidays I got another internship at a bigger Fashion PR firm and my parents were understanding. One of the things my dad said to me before starting this new internship was "Don't let anybody bring you down and treat you like a maid"


Timeline: 
Fashion School in Italy (Jan 2010-Sept 2010) - Fashion PR Internship in NYC (Sept 2010-Dec2010) - Fashion PR Internship in NYC (Jan 2011-April 2011)

Let me just start by saying ONLY IF MY DAD KNEW .... HE'D KICK MY ASS!
Was I treated like a maid at the new internship? Sometimes. Did I learn a lot at the second internship? Definitely. It was just different a learning experience.

How can I sum up this internship?

Ok 1st of all, NEVER believe when the interviewer says "If you work a hard 5 times a week, you can get a job here".
Let me just start off by saying, I worked an intense 5 days a week - sometimes till 12am at events ... and after my sudden resignation, I was offered the full-time position of RECEPTIONIST! ... o0o slash fashion assistant/showroom assistant. It was a slap across my face! Offended? Just a little.

Seriously where can I start??

I loved working there. I loved everyone there. Yeah the environment was pretty bad most of the time. Everyone was always pissed off, shouting, fighting, talking smack about each other, - nevertheless, they 'loved' each other at the end of the day.

It took time for people to remember my name and to warm up to me - hey! interns come ad go, what do they care? ..... throughout the 3, 4 months I was there I think I met over 12 different interns and 1 of them is a great friend of mine now.

Why did I suddenly quit? 
I didn't get a long with one of the assistants. She was younger than me and belittled the interns and one day I just exploded and spent most of the day crying. - yeah yeah, I read Kelly Cutrone's book "If You Have To Cry Go Outside" (Love that book!)  - but you know, NO ONE HAS THE RIGHT TO TALK TO YOU LIKE AN IDIOT! I seriously don't fuckin care WHO YOU ARE ... because YOU DO NOT KNOW WHO I AM OR WHO I WILL BE SOMEDAY! ... KARMA WILL GET YOU! - Therefore, treat others as you would like to be treated.
Anyways, that wasn't the only reason I left. I left because I felt like I had no opportunity there after all, I knew there weren't any openings and I needed time to dedicate myself to look for a job and stop living off my dad. I'm 25 and I don't feel comfortable anymore being fully taken care of. I want my parents to be proud of me.

Conclusion
Interning has its ups and downs and I lived and learned. Kelly Cutrone says Don't Complain. Hey! I'm just venting .... and I'm not mentioning names here.
But if I have ever have an intern I won't tell her to go next door and get my coffee or to buy me a set of winter gloves for me and my lover because we are going skiing for the weekend, or walk and pick up my dog's shit. There are just some things interns should never do. I can only imagine the hell the Marc Jacob's intern went through that he had to vent it through Twitter. Shit, I've even heard of famous NY based designers that have interns go into their house at 5am to wake them up and dress them up. Seriously, how humiliating?? Again, I don't care if you are rich and famous now- try to remember where you came from and how you got there. There is no need for you to be on a high horse. My parents were poor, worked hard and made something out of themselves and are now 70 years old and still wake up on their own, respect employees, and have taught me to stand up for what I believe in.

Thank you to my internships and everyone that has been involved. I hold no grudge nor hate, at all. You were just an experience that shaped my life.

INTERNSHIP RECOMMENDATIONS:
Read Kelly Cutrone's Book - If You Have To Cry Go Outside
Dedicate your summer or time off to an internship.
Don't dedicate your soul to an internship (it's unpaid. don't be stupid like me and work normal hours)
Wear flats and makeup (always look good, it's an unpaid job)

Additional Advice (Agree to Disagree):

http://www.freefashioninternships.com/blog/2010/05/16/10-tips-for-a-career-in-fashion/

I STRONGLY AGREE:

• DO help your interns learn skills they can use at other jobs, whether its patternmaking or memo writing.
• DON’T assign interns filing, photocopying, errands, or other mundane tasks (i.e. picking up dry cleaning, fetching lunch and coffee, acting as a courier, etc.). < Press Clippings, that's ok. But you know how many times the assistant asked me deposit money into his account? Buy soy chai sugar free coffees for assistants, guests, designers? Wash dishes in the bathroom for their after hour parties or visitors? Buy champagne for someone's birthday? >
• DO provide close supervision for interns, including the opportunity to shadow a senior employee; a day in the life of the creative director, public relations manager, or graphic designer is a the kind of learning experience that the Department of Labor wants to encourage.
• DON’T have more interns than full-time employees working in a single department. If the workload allocated to an intern is that of a full-time employee (or two), then you’re breaking the law. <I honestly didn't mind working long hours sometimes, but then again I shouldn't have>
• DO make sure that interns understand that there is no guarantee of a job at the end of the internship. 
• DON’T rely on the fact that interns receive some benefit in the form of improved work habits while performing repetitive required tasks like clerical work (unless the intern is training to be a clerical worker). In other words, be sure to give more than you get. 

Information From: http://www.freefashioninternships.com/blog/2010/11/24/dos-and-don%E2%80%99ts-a-fashion-company%E2%80%99s-guide-to-managing-a-lawful-internship-program/

Update on Year 2

It's been a very long time since I've posted on this blog for many reasons. One: I wasn't sure if I should continue to write about my experience, I was a little afraid that if my office found out about this I'd get in trouble with them like I did with my classmates in Italy. Two: I just haven't had time.

However, I think I will make the time!

I started this blog to share my real experience because I've read books and seen too much reality tv on fashion life and well some things aren't as they seem.

So let me remind you. In 2010, I went to grad school in Italy to pursue fashion and now in 2011, I moved to NYC to pursue Fashion PR and have interned at 2 great companies. Now, it is time for me to apply apply apply and find a job.

I want to share my experience. All experiences are different. This one is just mine.

Tomorrow I will start again and give you a detailed ride on my last 2 PR internships.

XoXo

Year 2, Internship 2

Hey! Welcome to my Year 2! My journey into the fashion world. Last year, I completed 9 months studying at Polimoda in Florence, Italy and 3 months at my 1st fashion internship for a start up public relations company in NYC. Today, I have started a new internship at another fashion public relations company in NYC. Last year was an emotional roller-coaster and I know this year will be too! I'm trying to get an in in Fashion PR in NYC all while finding a friendly niche and hopefully a love interest hehehe (perhaps I should apply to Millionaire Matchmaker) - all of this requires confidence, positivity and self assurance. I know I can! Yes I can! I know I will!

This new internship will be different from the last. Although, they are both PR - this time I will be focusing on inventory, samples, organization, and perhaps some events. My last internship was more of the communications side of PR (emailing, cold calling, and emailing). I'm exhausted already! hahahaha The office was a mess! They are going through some remodeling and everything is all over the place and I'm a neat freak! I find myself using the organizing post its, folding bags, picking up pens or hangers in order to continue my focus on sample inventory - but I LIKE IT! I'm moving and doing and that's what I like. At the last internship, I was just sitting and emailing all day and by the time I knew it it was 5pm. Another thing I like is the fact that there are other interns! Like 6 more! However, one of them was weird. She was assisting me all day and she eventually asked me to go to lunch with her. But while looking for a place to eat and during lunch she seemed very uninterested to talk - so why'd you ask me to lunch? cat got your tongue? ... then I thought? did I say something to offend you? (since people are so easily offended or bothered). ugh! well besides her, the interns and co-workers are all very very nice! great work environment! :D - - at the past internship, I only had a co-intern for 2 weeks. she was eventually fired for bailing work and talking back to the boss (not cool) but at least the boss and i got a long amazing!

Now I'd like to write a lil piece called "thats sooooo intern!"

At my last internship, I made the mistake of wearing heels sometimes - and when I wore them, I was suddenly told to run errands and drop off various clothing bags all over Manhattan. [Like my friends say "Like the devil wears Prada".

Today, I made the mistake of answering questions too fast. I was asked if I liked dogs or if I was allergic to them - "No! I love them!" ... what happened? well I was asked to walk, poop, and drop off 'pablo' the office dog to his lux apartment ... yep! that was me! the intern skipping through town to pick up some doggy poop. LOL

............... that's sooooooooo intern!

To all those starting to intern or moving into the fashion world ... 

hey! it's all fair play...live n learn, baby!

NYC-PR-INTERNSHIP-JOB HUNT-where am I heading?

For my friends who have followed my blog - Thank You! Honestly, I haven't been busy. But if I can sum it up, life in NYC (since my move in September from Florence, Italy) has been internship, gym, shopping, new family, new friends, walking in the cold, and job hunting.

I want to try to keep this post short but I think I'm gonna have to divide into personal and fashion student related.

On the personal side, my move here wasn't as scary or terrible as Florence. I feel safer and jollier when I walk the streets here and now with snow I feel romantic and nostalgic because I have no love interest but thats ok I'm heading back home soon ;) It's all party there. Finding an apartment in Manhattan was pretty much luck! My boss recommended me her friends apartment, where I now live with 2 other roommates. The roommates have been great. They are hardworking women and we all try to keep the apartment nice and clean. I have no complaints about them! Which is weird. The only complaint is about my apartment - the surrounding is damn loud! But hey that's NYC for you. Most of the noise are the loud ass fire trucks 24/7! and it used to be people bar hopping but now that its cold no one stays outside and its quieter. Before finding a place, I was living with some family. 

Family I had never met. It was weird at first but they were so welcoming and sweet that it was never too awkward. My move here has also been easy because my old friend Maria who used to live in Nicaragua. Unfortunately, she felt a certain pressure to make me feel at home or busy with dinner and party plans. Eventually, we had the talk. So now there is no pressure to go out every single night or weekend. and for the final touch, my very good friend and classmate from Polimoda moved to NYC (technically NJ) for her fashion internship! and my cousin also set me up a friendship blind date with her college buddy who is also new to NYC and we have also become friends and because of her I've met a diverse group of people, who I think I can eventually call friends.

The only issue that brought me a little down was the fact that my "friends" from back home that have been living in NYC for a while have failed to appear. They have either stopped answering my emails or say "yeah, I'll call you later this week for drinks". People have told me "That's NYC for you - people completely change face" ...... All I'm thinking now is that I hope not to bump into you back home cause I don't wanna hear your lame ass excuse! ..... As a friend, you should have welcomed me, tried to help me around the subways, finding a place, or at least had 1 cup of coffee with me! Is that really a lot to ask for?

On a Fashion Student side ..... My internship wasn't what I expected. No glitz, no glam, no office. It was basically me and the founder and since she just launched in January 2010 - she is still starting and had no office. We basically worked out of a coffee shop and creative lounge. At 1st it was all cold calling and email pitching. Eventually, I got bored and asked her for more. I also started reading about 'What really PR is' and the answer was "Email All Day" and that's exactly what I did. I was in a rot for a bit but then I started to enjoy it again. I saw the Communications side of PR - I blogged, created lookbooks, wrote my 1st press release, pitched stylists, editors, and stores and of course I was a messenger girl but just a few times.

What happens now? Well I started applying to jobs in November and December. Jobs in PR. Entry-level positions. I've had 2 nervous breakdowns already. Why? Well I believe I have a good resume but it's just not fashion related and I have no fashion or PR names (LV, Gucci, Lacoste, People's Revolution) on it. My 1st internship was this new PR firm. However, this was my decision! I turned down Product Development for BE&D, never heard back from 7th House PR, and shot down a possibility at Starworks. Maybe I should have waited for something good but something told me to take this internship. I don't regret it but maybe I should have picked a name since I'm 25 years and desperately searching for a paying job. I realized late in the game that I wanted to pursue Fashion and now Fashion PR. My suggestion to those who are young .... INTERN! As much as you can! .... Anyways, after applying to jobs and getting NO answer! I last minute decided to intern yet again! This time for PR big timers ;) ..... I'll be there for 4 months and hopefully after that I'll be able to get a paying job somewhere in PR!

It's definitely tough here in NYC but I'm confident. I know who I am, hard-working, and optimistic ..... I guess it just takes time .... a lot of PATIENCE!

P.S. There's a lot of drama in PR! It's high school all over again but I like it ;)

Dear NYC PR,

I hope all is good cause I'm here to stay ;)

Best,

  

Current Location: NYC

It's been a lil over a week since I arrived. What have I done? 1. Look for an apartment or a room to sublet 2. Started my internship just yesterday! However, 90% of my time has been dedicated to finding a place. I've looked everywhere! Upper East side, Lower East side, Chelsea, Brooklyn, Chinatown, Midtown, ... with and without a no-fee realtor. I've seriously busted my ass looking for a place. I'm stressing, I've had my breakdowns - but at the end I try to calm down - I can't jump and risk another tragic incident like I did in Florence (don't remember what happened to me? I insist you read about my experience in my February 2010 posts.) I think I've seen about 15 apartments which now make me appreciate the apartment I left behind! I had a great view, furniture, appliances, accessories, and it was my own studio - all for a very very good price. But now...all the apartments or rooms I've seen are just plain shitty and tiny! How can they call that an apartment??? I saw the smallest room yesterday! It was the size of my bathroom back home for $950! WTF! I'm going to start to rent my bathroom! It's insane! - but I gotta calm down. I'm staying with some family so there really isn't a hurry. "Le sigh" ... i want my apartment in Florence, i want my room in Nicaragua, i want space! i want a closet! and decent bathroom! I DON'T CARE IF ITS WALK-UP - I just want a decent place ... final sigh.

Anyways ... no more debbie downer... SOOOO work is goooooood! Basically yesterday and today I've been researching swim wear. ANDDDD that's all you get to hear - privacy issues ;) (i shoulda signed something like this for polimoda and the girls to avoid any problems LOL) however if you need PR - look my company up, www.shoutosocial.com ;)

My first few days, I did enjoy walking through NYC... I photographed a few fashionistas leaving Lincoln Center for Fashion Week, went to Bergdorfs for Fashion Night Out and saw Jason Wu, Tom Ford, SJP, Kelly Rutherford, and Mary J Blige, attended my first PR event for SS (which I will blog about on http://beatricecatchesfashion.blogspot.com/) and met up with my friend, Maria :)

So I'm fine. Don't worry about me. However, if you can hook me up with an apartment in NYC let me know ASAP!

p.s. I LOVE NYC!

Good News! Good Luck! GOOD GOOD GOOD!

After applying to countless jobs in NYC, Florence, L.A., Miami, and London. I finally chose the right one! There were a few places I would have died to work for but at the end I think the right internship found me and I found them as well. I was offered and accepted an internship for a PR firm in NYC called Shout Social. They are small but something tells me this feels very good! ... I actually turned down 2 other internships for prestigious companies in NYC while I waited for SS to tell me the good news I was hoping to hear. 

Having worked for a small business, I think choosing this new and small company, I will be surrounded by a lot more dedication, responsibilities, and most of all experience! Because I do not have any professional PR or fashion experience.

This actually all happened while my parents were here! The day they arrived 3 companies emailed me for job interviews! It was like my luck had changed or just having the positive energies and love from my parents made me forget the stress and take it a little easy with the interviews.

I am beyond happy! I wanted PR and I got it! I wanted NYC and I got it!

Thank you to everyone who has had me in their thoughts and prayers! I love you all!

More Shout Social:

http://www.shoutsocial.com/

They also have facebook & twitter ;)