Daily Inspiration: Meet Hayley Lewis

Today we’d like to introduce you to Hayley Lewis

Hi Hayley , we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
I think it all started back when I was a kid. My grandma always tells me she was told my parents were expecting me on the 50 yard line after one of my Dad’s football games. My Dad coached my entire upbringing and still does to this day, that’s where my love of the game came from. I grew up watching football from the sidelines while my Dad coached. My favorite birthday memory was my 7th. My dad took me to camp that year, I was thrilled I got to go, he even let me blow the whistle during drills. I still smile when I think back to that birthday, riding around practice on the golf cart.

We moved a lot growing up, from town to town whenever my Dad would take a new High School coaching gig. I didn’t mind moving though, I learned to adapt quickly and honestly craved the change. The 4 years I spent at my high school were the longest I had stayed in one place. When I left for college I was more than ready for the next chapter! I was craving another move, this time one on my own.

In 2011 I shot off to Nashville, Tennessee eager to pursue a career in vocal performance. I was an athlete all my life but fell in love with the fine arts growing up. My parents were both collegiate athletes, however both dabbled in the world of fine arts. My mother was a vocalist in college as well as a cheerleader, where as my father played in band all throughout school. My Dad’s mother, my grandma, was also a choir teacher her entire life instilling the importance of being “well-rounded” in her children and grandkids. When growing up my Dad would play tuba during the halftime of his football games, making sure to be back on the field in his pads come second half. In high school I did much of the same. After track practice I’d then head to choir practice or musical theater rehearsals. Athletics were life, but performing was an outlet. Little did I know later in life I’d combine the two.

After two short years in college I realized I loved the performing aspect, not so much the career choice. I didn’t see myself being a vocalist full time. Making “singing” into a career almost seemed to destroy my love for it, which quickly prompted me to switch lanes. I loved to be under the lights but I wasn’t sure how it’d fit into a career. In the midsts of trying to redirect my path I began to realize I’d be graduating with a HUGE amount of debt as well…with no career to show for it. I was putting myself through school, working 3 jobs while taking on a full course load. That’s when a friend told me about the Miss America pageant…mind you I had NEVER done a pageant in my life, after all I was an athlete, a coach’s kid, pageants never crossed my mind. Then I found out just how much scholarship money you could receive by winning Miss America I quickly said “sign me up!”

I remember calling my Dad to tell him I signed up for a pageant, expecting him to be shocked. Instead he said, “okay, how are we gonna win?” There was never even a doubt in his mind, if this was one of my goals it was his too and we were going to tackle it play by play. We mapped out the X’s and O’s, quite literally writing down a game plan to win Miss Tennessee and advance to Miss America. After a year of trial and error I won, advanced to Miss America and placed top 10 earning myself a significant amount of scholarship funds to be able to finish out my degree with much less debt. It was like in college hoops, I was a one and done in the world of pageants.

As Miss Tennessee I served as the governor’s Official Spokesperson for Character Education, traveling over 80,000 miles and speaking to over 50,000 school children about character and respect. It was a role I never imagined I’d be in, but so much of that experience catapulted me to where I am today. After a year of service I retuned to college eager to use what I learned and find a new career path. That’s when I found sports broadcasting, something I never imagined I could do before but because of my new experience realized I could. I learned how to present myself on camera, speak publicly and off the cuff…SO much of what I do now on a daily basis! Pairing my newfound on-camera skill with my sports knowledge from growing up helped me hit the ground running. It was like life didn’t miss a beat ever since I found my calling to be a sports broadcaster. The road wasn’t straight by any means, but I found what I was meant to do.

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
I’d saying being a female in this industry is no walk in the park. Working in sports as a women is 100000000 times better than what it used to be and I have 1000000 plus women to thank for that. Those who came before me paved a way for sports broadcasters like myself. If they didn’t break the glass ceiling I’d still be fighting an uphill battle. I’d still be fighting to get into the locker room for interviews. I’d still be fighting to have my questions answered. Fighting to have my voice acknowledged. Thankfully today many strides have been made and for the most part I feel treated as equal in the work place.

Now there are still daily struggles. I think more about what I wear than most should, “Is it modest enough?”, “will this attract too much attention?”, “will I be taken seriously?”. On top of that you have to go the extra mile to prove your knowledge as a female reporter, knowing damn well if you slip up it’s deemed “because you don’t know what you’re talking about”. Now on the flip said if a male makes that same slip up it’s “Ah, he just made a mistake”. I want to say it just is what is it, but that would diminish how far woman have come.

The projected biases are still a daily fight, but it is getting better as the world of sports continues to progress and women continue to show why they belong in this space. I’m lucky enough to work alongside men that support and treat me as an equal, a luxury many women did not experience when beginning their career many years ago.

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I work as a sports reporter here in Kansas City and have covered the Chiefs for the past 5 seasons, heading into my 6th in the fall of 2024. I started my career back in college by interning at local Nashville stations in 2015. I also sideline reported for my University’s Men’s Basketball team after returning from my year of service as Miss Tennessee. My tenure as Miss Tennessee included numerous spokesperson roles and TV appearances, which perfectly prepared me for a career choice in sports reporting. Once I graduated from Belmont University in 2016 I continued to shadow professionals in the industry and shoot out as many resumes and applications as possible. I believe I ended up sending over 80 applications out to TV stations only to receive one offer. I took it without question and moved across the country to a state I had never even stepped foot in! I worked as a sports reporter and anchor for ABC KEZI 9 in Eugene, Oregon before moving to back to my hometown of Kansas City to work as a sports anchor for KSHB 41. In 4 years of local sports here in KC I covered the Chiefs, Royals and Sporting KC as well as numerous college programs. I’ve been fortunate enough to report on 3 Super Bowls wins, 5 AFC Title games, the NCAA Men’s Final Four and the College World Series, just to name a few. After leaving local TV I took a leap of faith to pursue my goal of reporting on National TV. In 2023 I sidelined my first game for ESPN and since then have continued to freelance for ESPN, host Big 12 Football Weekly on ESPN+, host for Bleacher Report and the Kansas City Sports Network. Now I host a daily Chiefs podcast called, “Chiefs News Daily” on YouTube highlighting the reigning Super Bowl Champs along with my network freelancing duties. I’m currently getting prepared for another busy season of football ahead with a three-peat on the mind!!!!

We love surprises, fun facts and unexpected stories. Is there something you can share that might surprise us?
I have my Personal Trainer certification from NASM. I grew up in the weight room with my Dad and always took an interest in physical fitness. While he coached I was either on the sidelines or in the gym while his players lifted. My Dad taught me early on the importance of fitness and learning how to take care of your body, so I’ve always had a passion for health and wellness. Plus, as a former athlete the gym keeps me centered, it’s where I release energy and gain clarity! I’ve been training clients as a PT for the past 5 years now! If I’m not on the field you can bet I’m in the gym!

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hayleylewis_sports/?hl=en
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/hayleylewissports/
• Twitter: https://x.com/HayleyLewis_?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@KCSportsNetwork