5 minute read
How To Become A Model: Hailey Smith
Spunky and sweet model and All Star cheerleader Hailey Jayne (@hailey_smith_official) has been in front of a camera since she was in diapers. ”My first modeling job was for a company called The Little Bee Cloth Diaper Company,” says Hailey. “They made cloth diapers and for every diaper sold they also donated one to third world countries.” She has since gained quite the online following as an influencer, cheerleader and model showcasing her talents and representing brands as her fans follow her adventures. KIDFASH took a minute with Hailey as she shared a few tips from her path to success.
Find Your Passion
For Hailey her drive comes from following what interests her. At 6 years old she decided to begin cheerleading. Now five years later she is an All Star cheerleader, spending most days training and preparing for competitions. "I really love cheer and competing," says Hailey. "My favorite part of cheer is the 2 minutes and 30 seconds that we are performing in front of everyone."
Beyond cheer, modeling is definitely another of Hailey's favorites, and this time her mom's passion helped her get off on the right foot! “My mom is a photographer so it started by her just taking pictures of me and posting them,” says Hailey. "Also, my mom has a photography studio at home so a lot of the modeling I am literally able to do in my backyard."
Working together with mom the two have taken advantage of the strong social media platforms that are available to help the young star get noticed. Instagram has been the most beneficial for Hailey who is just shy of her 100k goal! "My mom runs the majority of my account because it can be time consuming and there can often be some not so nice people on there, but I am starting to do more on it, like answering fans and lives ." TikTok is another favorite, but Hailey finds it harder to grow a following when you are younger, "it's harder to grow on that platform until you are 13-16."
Put in the Work
With a self-professed “strong work ethic and big heart” Hailey prioritizes her schedule by ensuring she focuses on the most important things first. “School is always first, then cheer, then modeling." Each of these can be very time consuming. "Even though our cheer competition season is from November through April, I am doing some type of cheer activity year round like conditioning or tumbling to gain skills."
This tight cheer schedule and a desire to continue growing her career as a model, sometimes it can be difficult to find time for fun. "Modeling is a job and the companies we work with have deadlines," says Hailey. "So sometimes I have to model when I want to hang with friends or just chill. Sometimes we have to pick and choose what we want to do because we can't do it all. It is very hard to fit everything on a daily basis."
However, Hailey always finds the time to learn from others and recommends that those interested in the industry take advantage of the experience and ask questions once on a professional set. "Try not to be nervous, remember they picked you for a reason," says Hailey. "Take their advice and corrections and put them into action. They are experts in their areas and trying to share their expertise with you to make you better at your craft."
Enjoy the Ride
If you aren't enjoying what you do it might not be the right thing for you. It is hard work, but of course the job has its perks. “Modeling opens up opportunities and experiences I wouldn't normally have,” says Hailey. Combining her passion for cheer with modeling has been her most favorite part, as a representative for Rebel Athletic Cheer clothing she often travels to shoots. “I get to travel to places and meet people like my cheer idol Gabi Butler from the Netflix series Cheer. It is also fun to get clothes, toys and other products in the mail to test out. Modeling has given me great exposure and advantages to travel that I would not have otherwise had."
Finally, a few words of warning. “Try to be wary of people asking for money in the modeling or influencing industries,” says Hailey. “If an agency is truly interested they will not ask for an investment from you. You do not need to pay for classes or pricey headshots. Take your time and do your homework. If something isn't feeling right, trust your gut feeling.”
Hailey says consistency and persistence have been the most important factors in her success in modeling, influencing and cheer. And with big dreams ahead we think she may be well on her way to achieving her goals. "I'd like to be on the cover of Vogue and I'd like to cheer at Navarro," says Hailey. Keep it up girl - you are well on your way!
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