The layout of Donald Trump's campaign headquarters is, more or less, what you'd expect it to be. It's based in an old production studio that once housed The Apprentice. Makeshift walls within the space are made from plywood, and Trump lawn signs festoon the provisional partitions. Life-size cutouts of Trump are everywhere.

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The communications mastermind behind the Trump campaign, however, is not exactly who you'd expect. That title goes to Hope Hicks, a 27-year-old former PR rep turned press secretary who's behind Trump's media relations. A native of Greenwich, Connecticut, Hicks modeled for Ralph Lauren as a child, graduated from Southern Methodist University in 2010, and entered the world of New York public relations in 2012. A chance opportunity led her to the Trump Organization in 2014 and, for the most part, little is known about her. Recently, political reporter Olivia Nuzzi sat down with Hicks (with the condition that Trump be present in the room; that was the only way she agreed to the interview) to glean some information about her and her role in the controversial campaign. Here are six takeaways from Nuzzi's GQ profile of Trump's right-hand woman.


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1.) Prior to joining Trump's campaign, Hicks had no political experience

Identified as a "dispassionate Republican," Hicks had never even volunteered for a political campaign, let alone managed part of one, prior to Trump's bid for office. Though Trump's outsider status has served him well throughout the primary season, he didn't think similar inexperience would necessarily benefit his press secretary. He did, however, praise her for the ease with which she's adapted to her role. He told Nuzzi: "[S]he was able to build political experience quickly. She was very natural. She was very natural when it comes to picking it up, and a lot of people can't pick it up, because it's so fast-moving. It's faster-moving than anything else."

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2.) Hicks got her start working for a different Trump

Hicks was working for Hiltzik Strategies, an NYC public relations firm, when she was brought on to help Ivanka Trump expand her fashion line. The two grew close, particularly because, as Nuzzi notes, Ivanka was the "rare female corporate leader who is also kind to other women, and she affected an air of competence that seemed to temper the boorishness of the Trump brand." As Hicks professional relationship with Ivanka grew stronger, Donald took notice, and he poached her from Hiltzik in the fall of 2014.

3.) The alpha males in the Trump camp all vied to be the Don Draper to Hicks' Peggy Olson.

This was particularly true of Sam Nunberg, a former political advisor to Trump. When she joined the campaign, he gifted Hicks a copy of Running for Office and gave her the overly-saccharine nickname "Hopesicle." When Nunberg was later fired after racist rants he posted to his Facebook surfaced, Hicks drafted the scathing statement that deemed him a "low-level part-time consultant" and announced his termination.


4.) Hicks didn't expect to stay on as press secretary for the long haul.

Hicks wanted to return to the Trump corporate offices and told campaign manager Corey Lewandowski (who, coincidentally, was fired from the campaign the same day the story came out) he'd have to find someone else. His reply: "You made a big fucking mistake; you're fucking dead to me." Hicks ultimately decided to stay at the urging of Donald himself.

5.)Hicks has seen her fair share of Trump tantrums.

Each morning, Trump gets between 30 and 50 Google News results for his name. He then marks each story up, citing things he likes and does not like. Articles are then scanned and emailed back to the corresponding reporter with the subject line "From the Desk of Donald J. Trump." And when Trump is especially peeved, he's more than eager to ban a journalist from access him or his campaign. Who manages the blacklist? Hicks, of course.

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6.) Hicks has no problem playing gatekeeper to Donald Trump's media access - and vilifying anyone who might criticize the candidate.

Hicks loyalty, foremost, is to her boss. She has no problem limiting access to Trump or blatantly ignoring media outlets looking to dive deeper into the presumptive Republican nominee. And it was Hicks who orchestrated the efforts to disparage Pope Francis after he said Trump's plans for a border wall weren't "Christian," as well as the efforts to paint Breitbart reporter Michelle Fields as a "lying attention hound" after Lewandowski was arrested for misdemeanor battery after allegedly attacking Fields at a campaign rally.


This article originally appeared in US GLAMOUR and was written by Megan Mallon

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