Who is Crystal?

Although my bio can give you a good starting point to get to know me, there’s more to me than just being a public relations student.

So… who’s the person behind the name? Well, you’re about to find out.

Posing in the Grand Hope Park in LA during a sunny day right before visiting the FIDM Museum for the first time.

My full name is Crystal Cecilia Gamarra Bejar, and I’m currently completing my PR major at Cal State Long Beach as a transfer student from Orange Coast College. I moved to the U.S. in 2020 (yes, peak pandemic and total chaos), and since then, life has been a nonstop rollercoaster of growth. But that’s okay, because I love rollercoasters.

Even though I was born in the U.S., I grew up in Peru until I was 18, surrounded by family, traditions, and of course, amazing food (yes, I miss Peruvian ceviche every single day). Spanish is my first language, and I actually learned English the year before moving to the States. (Fun fact: I learned British English)

Now, if we’re talking random facts about me, I should probably start with this one: I’m a huge dog person. For the past few years, I’ve been offering pet sitting services around Orange County. It keeps me close to animals, which I love since I spent most of my childhood playing with Bobby, a German Shepherd. Today, my family back in Peru has two dogs: Rex (another German Shepherd and yes, we’re loyal to the breed) and Zeus, a Golden Retriever.

I’m also quite active. I love hiking, beach days, swimming, and playing volleyball whenever I get the chance. But one of my newest hobbies is running. I joined a running club last year just to try something new, and after a few weeks feeling like dying, I finally made it through the 3 miles distance without stopping. I felt invincible. I ran my first 5K last December, and now I’m working toward a 10K, then a half marathon, and someday… a full marathon. Crazy? Maybe. But I'm not scared of the challenge.

Another fun fact is that I’m a lowkey makeup artist. Right before moving to the U.S., I completed a 6-month makeup artistry course, and since then, doing makeup and skin care has become my own therapy. I love creating soft, natural looks, but it's during Halloween that I let loose my artistic side. Whether it’s my own face or my friends’, it’s always a lot of fun.

When I’m not outside or doing my makeup, you’ll probably find me reading a book. I’m a sucker for romance and drama novels (can’t go wrong with them), but I also enjoy a good horror story, like Misery by Stephen King which is one of my favorites.

And recently, I’ve gotten into dancing. After moving to the U.S., I started missing my culture and traditions more than ever. Salsa music has always been part of my life, whether I was listening to it in the radio in the mornings or seeing my mom dancing it in every family event. In other words, salsa brings me home. So, I signed up for salsa classes and joined CSULB salsa club. Now, any chance I get, I’m dancing the night away to the sound of to yo no sé mañana ("I don’t know about tomorrow” my favorite song).

At the end of the day, I’m just a curious soul. Always trying new things, learning more about myself, and growing into the person I want to be. My dream? To build a successful career in public relations that allows me to travel the world, visit Peru at least once a year, and live the life I’ve always dreamed of… with a dog or two by my side, and preferably near the beach.

Thank you for reading a little more about me. Check out my social accounts!