Emely Navarro turned her passion for pop culture into an Emmy-winning career

When you look at Emely Navarro’s career path, it’s hard not to wonder how she has turned every opportunity into a stepping stone toward her dream.

From her time at San Diego State University, where she dove headfirst into journalism, to winning an Emmy at just 22 and now producing red-carpet interviews and celebrity content at Access Hollywood, Navarro has built a career at the intersection of discipline, creativity and passion for pop culture.

“I always knew I wanted to do journalism,” Navarro says. “By middle school, I was already set on working in entertainment news.” That clarity carried her from her San Fernando Valley upbringing to San Diego, where SDSU’s specialized journalism program and campus culture won her over.

At SDSU, Navarro immersed herself in the journalism department early on, thanks to a learning community in her freshman dorm that connected her with faculty and peers. Encouraged to get involved, she quickly joined The Daily Aztec and later KCR College Radio.

“The Daily Aztec was intense, serious and taught me so much about writing and deadlines,” she recalls. “KCR, on the other hand, was more laid back and fun. Having both really balanced my college experience.”

Navarro climbed the ranks at The Daily Aztec, moving from freshman writer to news editor by her junior year. Along the way, she discovered that producing, not reporting on camera, was where her real passion lay.

Through connections at SDSU, Navarro landed a role as a production assistant at KPBS, San Diego’s NPR and PBS affiliate. “I did everything there: teleprompter, cameras, writing scripts. It was the best crash course I could have asked for,” she says.

Her work at KPBS led to an internship at ABC, where she honed her producing skills further. By the time she graduated, Navarro had three years of professional newsroom experience. Her first post-college job was at KSBY in San Luis Obispo, a small-market station where she produced entire shows almost immediately.

“It was trial by fire,” Navarro laughs. “Nothing prepares you to produce a live newscast until you’re doing it. It was stressful, but that’s how you learn.”

An Emmy Before 23

In 2019, Emely Navarro produced coverage of the Conception boat fire, a devastating tragedy off the Santa Barbara coast that killed 34 people. While the story was heartbreaking, her team’s reporting went on to win a regional Emmy.

“It feels strange to be rewarded for something born out of tragedy,” she reflects. “But that Emmy was a dream come true. I actually paid for the entry myself, not even knowing if I’d get nominated. It was me shooting my shot.”

Winning the award not only validated her work but also gave her a competitive edge when she later applied for jobs in entertainment news.

After leaving local news for a short stint in advertising, Navarro landed her dream role in 2021 as a digital producer at Access Hollywood. There, she creates entertainment news videos, edits celebrity content and conducts red-carpet interviews.

Her celebrity interviews range from Javier Bardem to Shawn Mendes, with Jason Momoa standing out as the “nicest human being to exist.” Despite her calm demeanor now, Navarro admits that in her early days she was nervous. “I’d remind myself that they’re just people. After the first question, the nerves always melt away.”

Beyond the daily hustle, Navarro also developed a unique segment called Behind the Easel. The series invites celebrities to paint while she interviews them, creating a relaxed and creative environment that reveals more than a standard sit-down conversation.

“It started as a paint-and-sip idea,” she explains. “But we dropped the alcohol part and made it just about the painting.”

Looking back, Navarro credits SDSU for helping her find her voice and her community. “I didn’t do Greek life, so the Daily Aztec and KCR were my homes. They gave me confidence, experience and the connections that led me to where I am now.”

From a young girl fascinated by Britney Spears and Paris Hilton to an Emmy-winning news producer and entertainment journalist, Navarro has proven that following your instincts and taking leaps of faith pays off.

“Shoot your shot,” she says. “You never know where it might take you.”