Meet Haleigh Marie

Today we’d like to introduce you to Haleigh Marie.

Hi Haleigh, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, you could tell our readers some of your backstory.
As a model, I’ve always loved being in front of the camera, being creative, and striking a pose! When I was a child, my sister and I would grab the video camera and create all types of content! Random ideas would come to our heads for news segments, commercials, music videos, singing competition shows, fashion shows, etc. You name it, we were recreating it with our little spin on it. I started posing for photos in front of the camera in my late teenage years! I was an athlete my entire life, so I never used to be dressed for the occasion, or I was not in the “get glammed up and take photos” mindset. But as my sister helped break me out of my comfort zone, I quickly realized how photogenic I was. In 2012, I remember I was 17 years old, and my sister asked me to walk in a fashion show with her; they needed an extra model with long legs. I had never walked on a runway in my life! But I did it. I was so nervous my legs were shaking! But to this day, I am happy I did it! No regrets. It was a great early runway experience and helped jumpstart my confidence immediately without me even knowing it. I was then a college athlete following 2012, but I still made time to do at least one themed photoshoot a year for content! This got me very comfortable with fashion and being in front of the camera. This was before I even knew I wanted to model professionally. I watched my style, confidence, and personality grow and evolve in front of the camera each year. A few years after college and being in the working world, I saw a newfound potential in myself and knew there was much more room for me to grow.

Fun fact: I never wore heels because I was insecure about my height! Standing at 6’0” tall, I used to think, “Why would I want to be taller?” Everything changed for me once I started to not care about those things and embrace my height. My mindset became, “I am tall; why not be taller?” And at this moment, my love for fashion and how I can display it became apparent.

In the fall of 2022, I walked in my first fashion show in 10 years and haven’t looked back since. I now model for multiple designers, brands, clothing stores, and fashion organizations throughout Kansas City. As we speak, I am gearing up for Omaha Fashion Week’s spring season! I will never forget my journey and learning to embrace myself for all the fantastic things that make me me. Self-love and confidence will take you higher.

Let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what challenges have you had to overcome?
It has been a challenging road. As a fashion model, you constantly open yourself up to criticism and judgment by putting yourself on display. It takes a specific mindset to not think of the negatives and be hard on yourself. Your mindset needs to stay optimistic, which can look like a roller coaster. For example, when you go to a casting call for a campaign or a fashion show, there is typically a specific look they are searching for. If you are not selected for that particular opportunity, it can be easy to get down on yourself and wonder why. You can’t get discouraged because, as a model, chances are you will not get selected for every opportunity you put yourself out there for, and that’s okay. Many other people are trying to do what you do or do what you do right alongside you. You have to be so tuned into yourself that those around you don’t affect what light you’re giving off. Being in a room full of models but knowing exactly what sets you apart from all of them, you let that speak for itself.

Let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I am a fashion model that specializes in print and runway. I’ve been professionally modeling for almost 2 years now, and I’ve loved every moment. I constantly push myself to do things that will help me grow as a model and out of my comfort zone. For example, I starred in a YouTube reality show called ChampSeries, a model competition show with a strategy twist. We filmed season 3 in June of 2023, and it was so much fun to be a part of! I met so many amazing people while filming, and I was pushed so far out of my comfort zone that it was one of the best decisions I’ve made in my modeling career. My confidence has always been high, but I learned so much about myself during the experience that it was truly humbling. What sets me apart from others is that I’m a strong-spoken, outgoing, bold, grab-life-by-the-throat type of female. I’m a very loving and intelligent individual who learns from life constantly, but I am also very confident, witty, passionate, and wild enough to take everything head-on. I am also a tall, ambiguous female with a look that people would love to have and love to work with. As a model, my passion is to use my looks to enhance any design, product, or idea brought to me.

What changes are you expecting over the next 5-10 years?
For big shifts in 2024, I will be walking in Omaha Fashion Week and New York Fashion Week to continue to build my fashion week resume. I see myself signing with a few agencies throughout the U.S. to expand my reach and build my resume. I already have a few projects lined up for the year’s first half, but I’m looking to move forward with an agency decision here soon. In the next 5 – 10 years, I plan to be signed to a major brand deal and walk in more fashion weeks nationwide and abroad.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: haleighmarie_xo

Image Credits
Dwan Miller Photography, Jerome Hutchison Photography, Erishyll Mae Photography