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Intern Diaries: Brooke Hannel

Aka Milk Paper’s day one.

Portrait selfie of Brooke Hannel Portrait selfie of Brooke Hannel

Welcome to the Intern Diaries. At Milk HQ, a lot happens behind the scenes and our interns are an integral part of everything we do. Here, you'll get an inside look at exactly what a day in the life looks like for them. Our interns learn about careers in product development, design, brand storytelling, and so much more—plus, they have plenty of cool stories and on-the-job advice to share. This week, get to know Brooke (she/her), our Editorial Content intern who is one of the first writers for the Milk Paper Blog. 

Where did you go to school? 

I went to Utah Valley University and graduated in 2020. 

What did you study? 

I majored in journalism.

What’s your dream job?

I’ve wanted to write a TV show since high school. I was really into script writing back then. I always wanted to do a semi-biographical TV show, kind of like Fleabag, which Phoebe Waller-Bridge directed, wrote, and starred in. I’d want to do a show [based on my life] but with someone else playing me. I feel like it would be kind of awkward to play myself. 

Why did you want to intern at Milk?

I’ve always been really into beauty. Before I graduated high school, I never used to wear makeup. When I graduated, makeup really boosted my confidence. I also really love writing about beauty and fashion, so when I saw that Milk was hiring, I thought, ooh, I love their products. Plus, I was using Lip + Cheek all the time, so I applied last year. I really wanted to explore the realm of beauty and gain knowledge, skills, and opportunities with this role. 

What’s your personal relationship with beauty?

I like makeup that enhances your natural beauty already. I don’t want to wear 30 pounds of makeup. I do my makeup in 10 minutes because I’m claustrophobic and doing so much makeup can really [trigger] that. It’s also a confidence booster and a really fun way of expressing yourself—sometimes I wanna party and put on purple eyeliner. I also don’t think makeup is as superficial as some people might believe. 

What’s your favorite Milk product and why?

I’ve gone through phases. It depends on the season. 

Right now, my favorite Milk product is the Bionic Bronzer in Time Travel because the texture reminds me of melted chocolate—if you’ve ever left a chocolate bar in your car on a hot day, you know what I mean. It’s fun to use and I love how it feels. It blends out so nicely.

What’s a typical day at Milk like for you?

I work remotely. I wake up at 7 AM Utah time—which in New York is 9 AM—and I usually work for an hour or two from my bed. Then, I’ll get up because my dog is probably scratching at my door. I take her outside to sunbathe a little and then I make myself breakfast. While I’m eating, I finish up some work. My best ideas come after I’ve eaten. I usually work on SMS messages every day, and probably have an email to write once or twice a week. 

What’s your zodiac sign?

Aquarius sun, Gemini rising, Scorpio moon.

What’s your go-to coffee/tea order?

My go-to is an Iced Chai Latte from Starbucks. My favorite thing to do in the fall is add pumpkin syrup—I call it a Spooky Chai.

Brooke Hannel wears a pink top and leather skirt, with a background of wildflowers and grasses

What’s an album or song you’re listening to on repeat?

The album I have on repeat is Emails I Can’t Send by Sabrina Carpenter. 

What advice do you have for prospective interns?

My number one piece of advice is to always go back to see what’s been fixed or edited so you can understand what you need to work on and improve. Don’t be afraid to ask questions because everyone knows you’re an intern. If you ask questions, they know you’re here to learn. No one will be weird about it. 

What’s the thing you’re most proud of that you’ve worked on at Milk?

Probably the blog: Milk Paper. When I got hired in September, it was a dream that Lindsay Schallon, MMU Editorial Creative Director, talked about with me. At the time we were redoing the site, so I wrote a lot of the product copy as well. In the early stages of the blog, I started off writing some example posts. Now, I’ve seen it go from little drafts and dream boards to being published and shared around everywhere. It’s so cool.


Follow Brooke on Instagram @brookehannel

Selfie of Brooke Hannel in a white collared shirt


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Estee Yi (she/her) is an editorial intern for Milk Makeup and college journalist exploring the human condition. She’s always looking to eat good food, expand her ring collection, and write the perfect lede.

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Estee Yi (she/her) is an editorial intern for Milk Makeup and college journalist exploring the human condition. She’s always looking to eat good food, expand her ring collection, and write the perfect lede.

All information is created for informational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.