Community Highlights: Meet Katherine Brooks of KBPR

Today we’d like to introduce you to Katherine Brooks.

Hi Katherine, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
I grew up in North Carolina, but I was always drawn to fashion and beauty, so moving to Los Angeles and building a career in the industry felt like a natural path for me. I spent more than 15 years working at agencies including Bollare, CLD, and ICA, where I had the opportunity to work with both established brands and emerging ones.

Over the years, I started thinking about what I would want an agency to look and feel like if I built one myself. I wanted to create something more personal and collaborative, an agency where clients felt like we were truly an extension of their team rather than simply another account on a roster. It was equally important to me to build an environment where my team felt supported, valued, and had access to the kind of mentorship I wish I’d had more of earlier in my career.

I launched KBPR in 2019 with that vision. Seven years later, we’ve grown into a full team working across media relations, influencer partnerships, and brand strategy for clients in fashion, beauty, and lifestyle. Even as we’ve grown, I’ve remained very hands-on with every client we work with.

That personal approach is still at the core of KBPR. I never want our work or our relationships to feel transactional. We genuinely care about our clients, their businesses, and what we’re building together. For me, one of the most rewarding parts of this career is seeing a brand grow and knowing that our team played a meaningful role in helping them get there.

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Honestly, no, not entirely, and I don’t think it’s supposed to be. I thought the hard part would be starting the business, but what’s surprised me most is what it takes to keep building it. Starting an agency is one thing. Staying true to the kind of agency you wanted to create while keeping the business healthy and continuing to grow is a completely different challenge.

I started KBPR because I couldn’t stop thinking about what I would do differently if I ever had the chance to build an agency myself. I had seen agencies take on too many clients, senior leaders sell the work but not actually be involved in it, and relationships become transactional on both sides. I knew I wanted to build something more personal and be much more involved in the work and in the relationships.

The funny thing is that relationships, which are probably what I care about most in this business, have also been one of the hardest parts for me. I get very invested in our clients and genuinely care about their brands, so I’ve had to learn not to take it personally when a relationship ends or a client decides to go in a different direction. At the end of the day, it is still a business. I’ve also learned that being a good partner doesn’t mean saying yes to everything. Sometimes it means pushing back or being willing to have a difficult conversation because you believe it’s right for the client.

There have definitely been times when it would have been easier to walk away, and I’m proud that I haven’t. Seven years in, I’m still building the agency I set out to create, and I think I’ve learned how to grow and evolve without losing sight of why I started it in the first place.

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about KBPR?
KBPR is a Los Angeles-based public relations and talent management agency specializing in beauty, fashion, and lifestyle. We represent emerging and established brands alongside a curated roster of creator talent, developing thoughtful strategies that build visibility, strengthen relationships, and create long-term relevance across media, influencer, affiliate, celebrity, and brand partnerships.

What sets us apart is that we really take the time to understand the business behind the brand or the person behind the talent. We want to know what they’re building, who they’re trying to reach, where they want to go, and what success actually looks like for them. That understanding shapes how we approach the work. Sometimes the answer is traditional media, sometimes it’s creators or celebrities, and sometimes it’s a partnership or an idea we haven’t tried before. There isn’t one formula that works for every client, and I think that’s part of what keeps the work interesting.

I’m still very involved with every client, but I’m equally proud that my team has built their own strong relationships with the brands and talent we represent. I never wanted KBPR to be an agency where everything revolves around one person. I wanted to build a team that our clients know, trust, and genuinely enjoy working with.

I’m proud of everything we’ve accomplished at KBPR, but especially the role we’ve played in launching new brands, supporting brands as they enter new markets, and helping them build awareness in incredibly crowded categories. We’ve had the opportunity to work with brands including d’Alba, Child of Wild, Rumored, and BYUR, and it’s incredibly rewarding to see what we’ve helped build alongside them.

We don’t take on a client simply because we think we can get them press or secure them brand deals. We take them on because we believe in what they’re building and that we’re the right partner to help them accomplish what they want to accomplish.

Let’s talk about our city – what do you love? What do you not love?
WHAT I LIKE: I love the access to everything that exists here. There’s such an incredible concentration of entrepreneurs, creatives, beauty and fashion brands, and people who are constantly building something new. Being surrounded by that kind of energy is inspiring, and I honestly don’t think I would have built the career or business I have anywhere else.

WHAT I DISLIKE: Los Angeles can sometimes have a reputation for transactional relationships, where connections feel more driven by what someone can do for you than by a genuine interest in one another. I’ve been lucky to find my people here, but it took time, and I think you have to be intentional about building real friendships and relationships. And, of course, the traffic. After years of dealing with it, I recently moved to West Hills, and having a little more space and being slightly removed from everything has been a very welcome change.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.katherinebrookspr.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/_kbpr_
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/katherinebrookspr/
• LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/company/katherinebrookspr/