A UNO Journalism and Media Communications student creates her opportunities.
by JARED CRAIG
UNO Social Media and Digital Engagement Manager
Standing in a photo studio, Bella McAtee directed models into position against a white backdrop, turning her artistic vision into reality.
The energy and chaos of a fashion photoshoot is hard to match. With a camera in hand, McAtee adjusted the lights, selected props and arranged the studio’s vintage furniture. Nearby, makeup artists added final touches to her next subjects while her peers from the University of Nebraska at Omaha captured behind-the-scenes content for social media. The room was loud and offered little space to maneuver — but she wouldn’t have it any other way.
She was living her dream.
“Fashion is just everywhere,” McAtee said. “As a little girl, I watched ‘Lizzie McGuire’ with all its vibrant colors and the Y2K aesthetic. I’ve always been drawn to movies, and I used to be a theater major and loved costuming. And when I’m looking at magazines and marketing, it’s the fashion that catches my eye.”
Now, when she picks up a camera, the storyteller in her takes over.
With a laugh, she wondered aloud, “How do I take these types of photos that are so outlandish?”
Don’t Wait for Opportunities — Chase Them
When McAtee envisioned her own fashion photoshoot, she made it happen. She contacted Omaha-based designer Makena Ninete, founder of the Ruby June brand, and offered free photography services in exchange for clothing pieces. It wasn’t a money-making venture — she simply wanted the experience.
She discovered Ninete through Omaha Fashion Week and was drawn to her aesthetic, which emphasizes crochet and upcycled materials.
Ninete agreed.
“If you’re just waiting around for opportunities, they’re not going to come tap on your shoulder. You must scout for them,” McAtee said.
So, McAtee looked for her next opportunity. Every summer, Omaha hosts the NCAA Men’s Baseball College World Series, which the university serves as a co-host. She knew it was a good chance to get social media experience, and she turned to the Baseball Village. It’s a staple of the tournament, a tent city stocked with merch, games, and food. Knowing a recent alumna who managed the Village’s social platforms, McAtee reached out, asked about a role in content creation, applied, and started training the next week.
The work meant long hours, sometimes 10 to 12 a day, which was a challenge in a role where she needed to keep the energy high to stay creative and engaging with fans.
She teamed up with fellow UNO students, Emma Elsasser, and Dawson Anderson, the graduate who shared the opportunity with her. Together, they took photos and made fun social media videos, posing prompts to fans and the athletes playing in the tournament who wandered into the Village. Influencers, such as Livvy Dunne and the Savannah Bananas, would also make surprise appearances. But this Maverick trio wouldn’t miss a beat.
Every day, McAtee bounced around to find genuine moments of fans, even asking an obvious question about who they’re rooting for even though they wore their team’s shirt.
“It would bring out these great moments about what they’re doing in Omaha and how being here has been special for them,” she said.
To make the most of the tournament, they would create 30 to 40 posts a day and helped the Village’s Instagram account gain 3,500 followers in a span of a week.
“It taught me to be able to do content on my feet because there are so many outlets for content creation, like marketing and media, where you have more time to plan campaigns,” she said. “The Village was really the place for me. It has the energy, no matter the game or how it turns out for the fans and their team.”
Charting Her Path in Public Relations
Entering a competitive public relations industry that often demands experience for entry-level positions can be challenging.
But McAtee is determined to make it work. This summer, she interned with Omaha-based Passport PR.
“Public relations can be a challenging field to gain experience in, but it’s always necessary to land a job in the industry. Talk about a catch-22,” said Schlegelmilch, the firm’s founder who is also a UNO alumna. “Bella and her work ethic truly impress me. She is wise beyond her years, a gifted communicator, and can create quality content quickly and with ease.”
In her internship, McAtee contributed to a major campaign for Thrasher Foundation Repair, which donated $250,000 in labor to nine Midwest nonprofits. She also supported a media dinner at Arbor Day Farm’s restaurant, Timbers, and helped coordinate national press outreach, including Forbes and Travel + Leisure.
“Being in Omaha makes the difference because I’m finding shared experiences with others,” McAtee said. “I see the Omaha ‘O’ on the outfield wall at the College World Series. I see UNO students as vendors. Even being able to introduce myself to my boss at Passport PR and say, ‘I’m a UNO student, I write for the student newspaper, The Gateway.’ And so did she. Making these connections makes me feel the greatest Maverick pride I’ve ever had in my college experience.”
McAtee is still figuring out her plan after graduating, but she mentioned being a publicist for an athlete or a writer.
“I’ve always wanted to tell stories,” McAtee said. “In public relations or journalism, you get to highlight the news and events about your city. Learning about someone new is how I want to spend every day of my life.”
