Unhinged tales from beauty industry press trips, part 1
If you think you recognise anyone in these stories, you don’t
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This is just a little insight into the chaos that sometimes ensued during press events over the years. I have been very careful to not identify any specifics here about brands, names and dates – what I’m saying is, you won’t know who these people are unless you were THERE at the physical events in question, in which case you’ll already know the story so these won’t be breaking news.
*Note: Most of these situations happen in places where I am not naturally to be found – believe or not, my habitat is a modest home in North County Dublin and not a palace, as these scenarios I’ve found myself in might lead you to believe. I was in a position of great privilege as a result of my work as a beauty editor, to be clear.*
1
I was at a HIGH FALUTIN’ dinner in one of the most recognisably fancy hotels in London with a brand that was the very definition of ‘no expense spared’. I’d imagine there were bouquets of flowers on the tables that cost more than I earned in a week at the time. There was a jazz trio. There was a person there engraving people’s initials onto beauty products. The menu contained multiple things I had never eaten, nor ever considered to be food. It was a TIME.
But the best thing of all was that the brand’s biggest name, a brand ambassador that was world renowned in the beauty industry, was going to be attending the dinner. This person was the raison d’être for the entire thing happening: Their presence at the meal was the focal point. The reason we, the gathered media, were all in attendance. The reason myself and three influencers/media from Ireland had been flown over.
Word spread through the room that the person wouldn’t be joining us until the main course, and though we’d been there an hour and still hadn’t sat down at the table yet, we were all fine with that. Except for one person.