The Intern

On this issue, Kayla Hohenstein: Intern at Muse.

What made you want to intern in this company?

Throughout middle and high school I was really interested in the beauty and fashion industries, so having the opportunity to gain exposure to the modeling industry was something I wanted to take full advantage of.

Did you like the dynamics of an internship better than the environment of a college course?

This internship was my first experience of working a 9-5 in a business setting. From my experience, internships are more free-flowing than a college course. You learn valuable things about yourself and the industry at unexpected moments.

If you could change one thing about your experience, what would it be?

If I could go back, I wish I would have talked more to the different agents within Muse. I would love to know what drew them to narrow in on their different specialties (commercial, runway, fitness etc). I believe you can learn so much from other people’s experiences and Muse had a diverse community.

Three valuable things you learned about yourself & the industry.

The modeling industry can be very cutthroat and harsh, so I was inspired by how confident and strong the models I worked with are. I loved my experience with Muse, but I struggled being surrounded by the culture of the industry. Entering the internship being 16 years old, I was unsure how much I could contribute, but regardless of your age you bring a fresh mindset and a unique skillset to the job. There is always something that an intern can do to add to the company.

What advice would you give to people who are thinking of interning in this industry?

Company culture is crucial. The modeling industry can be harsh at times and that is definitely a shock when experiencing it for the first time. I would do research and try and talk to as many people as you can who have worked there. If you are interning or working full time at a company a lot of your day will be spent with coworkers, so you want to enjoy the people that surround you.