BOLD PR: NYC Beauty-Only PR Agency, Fenty Beauty Client

BOLD PR is a New York agency that specializes exclusively in beauty, founded in 2008 by Jodi Balkan, per The PR Net. Balkan worked at a PR agency and led PR at L'Oréal Paris in-house before founding it, per a Carnegie Mellon University article. The PR Net 100 entries list clients including Lancôme, Armani Beauty, Fenty Beauty, Pat McGrath Labs, Milk Makeup, Biossance and St Tropez.

Originally published April 2021. Updated October 22, 2026.

Who founded and leads BOLD PR?

Jodi Balkan is founder and president, listed as president in The PR Net 100 entries for 2022 and 2023. The Carnegie Mellon article says she worked at a PR agency, then led PR at L'Oréal Paris in-house, before founding BOLD PR in 2008. The 2025 entry names Danielle Steinman as senior vice president. The 2021 entry says the firm is proud to be solely devoted to beauty, which it says gives it unmatched depth of knowledge.

Which clients does BOLD PR represent?

The PR Net 100 entries list changing rosters across years. The 2021 entry names long-term clients Fenty Beauty, Pat McGrath Labs, St Tropez, The Honest Company, OGX, Youth To The People, Armani Beauty, Biossance and GHD, with new wins Lancôme, Prada Fragrances, Ralph Lauren Fragrances and Neutrogena Hair. The 2023 entry adds Valentino Beauty, Prada Beauty, Aveeno Hair and Nest New York, and new wins Rogaine and Anastasia Beverly Hills.

What campaigns does BOLD PR cite?

The 2025 entry cites Lancôme's 25th anniversary of Juicy Tubes and its Juicy Kissing Web campaign, the launch of Fenty Hair, which it says earned 25 U.S. beauty awards in its first year, and Milk Makeup's Cooling Water Jelly Tints, which it says had a 60,000-person waitlist. The 2023 entry cites Lancôme being named the number one overall luxury TPV by Cision for 2022, just after BOLD's first year with the brand, and strategic alignments for Armani Beauty's GEN A and an NBA squad including Tyler Herro and Jordan Clarkson. These are the agency's own claims.

What recognition has BOLD PR received?

The 2021 entry says Business Insider named it among the Top 18 Boutique PR Firms of 2021 and the Observer ranked it among the Most Powerful Beauty PR Firms of 2018. The firm appears in The PR Net 100 entries for 2021, 2022, 2023 and 2025.

What does BOLD PR do?

The firm describes representing established brands, niche brands and innovators with media coverage, influencer engagement and insights. The 2023 entry says its services continue to evolve within the PR and communications space only, and the 2022 entry says it is watching hybrid events that combine in-person and livestreamed experiences. The 2025 entry cites talent alignment, content creation and influencer partnerships.

How does BOLD PR compare with other beauty PR firms?

BOLD is a specialist, unlike generalist consumer agencies. See EPR's beauty PR, fashion PR and influencer marketing pages, the New York PR firms list and the AMP3 PR profile.

Related: PR agency profiles directory · Beauty PR · Fashion PR · New York PR firms