Coaldale's Hailey Kloot is making waves in the modelling industry. (Photo: LNN)

By Justin Goulet

Coaldale model achieving her dreams one shoot at a time

Mar 6, 2024 | 11:12 AM

LETHBRIDGE, AB – A model from Coaldale achieved a significant milestone earlier this year.

During the 2024 New York Fashion Week in early February, Hailey Kloot was able to see her face on a billboard in Times Square.

Kloot told Pattison Media that she got to share the moment with a close friend.

The 29-year-old said, “We just waited for it to pop up and then it just appeared, and it was such a surreal feeling. My body was shaking [and] I was tearing up.”

“It was massive. It was like a movie theatre screen!”

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Kloot said the modeling campaign was for the makeup brand Angel Samples, and she was selected to take part in a photoshoot through a contest conducted on Instagram in January.

Kloot noted, “A couple of days after [entering], I think it would have been January 26^th, they announced the winners, and it was me and one other girl.”

“It all happened within a matter of two weeks.”

She remarked that a goal for next year is to model as part of the New York Fashion Week festivities.

HUMBLE BEGINNINGS

Kloot was born and raised in Coaldale and said the southern Alberta town will “always be home”.

After previously running an aesthetics business, Kloot took a leap of faith and decided to pursue modelling in 2019.

She said, “I was shooting with some local photographers – Chelsee Sommerfeldt and Juhee Anderson, and I just really enjoyed it, I loved it, and I was like, ‘maybe I can make something of this since I’m not doing aesthetics anymore’, so it just kind of took off from there.”

Kloot is not signed to any particular modelling agency, as she works as a freelance artist. She said networking and making connections is a big component of landing different opportunities.

Kloot explained, “It’s definitely harder [freelancing] but I started traveling – I was going out to LA [Los Angeles] and Miami and I started networking and just making better connections and now, just seeing where I’m at now, it was definitely who I knew, not what I knew, and it’s all about the connections you can make.”

EXOTIC DESTINATIONS

Kloot’s career in modelling has allowed her to see areas of the world she never expected to.

She said, “Two years ago, I got asked to shoot for Influent Traveler and that’s a magazine out in the [United] States, and it [the photoshoot] was in Dubai.”

“There was about nine of us girls, they flew us all out to Dubai for a week. It was so amazing. I never thought in my entire life I would ever go to Dubai, let alone it be for a magazine cover.”

Although she had the chance to explore the area, her time spent in Dubai was very work-focused.

Kloot said, “We did some excursions, so we got to ride on the camels, do the dunes, see the Burj Khalifa, but while we were doing all that we were literally shooting.”

She has also done photoshoots in Bali and the Maldives.

Kloot remarked, “When we were in the Maldives, there was some downtime but a lot of the time if you are there shooting for a specific magazine or event, it’s like ‘go go go go’.”

MISCONCEPTIONS

Kloot said there are some misconceptions when it comes to the modelling industry, and it is not just about standing in front of a camera and smiling.

She told Pattison Media, “It honestly is a lot of work. You’re putting yourself out there, and just doing that is hard enough.”

Kloot added that it’s important to stay in shape, eat healthy and, “You have all the necessities to keep up with beauty-wise.”

“It might sound easy but it’s really not, it takes a huge toll on you, for sure.”

Last year, Kloot walked for 24 designers at Miami Swim Week. Of the casting process, she explained that prospective models walk into a room, “and you literally just stand like a herd of dogs and the designers just pick you.”

“It’s good and bad, but it’s just like you’re there to be judged. I know that’s part of my job and I think as long as you have the confidence and are okay with it, you just have to be ready with the yes’s and the no’s and the ups and downs.”

Kloot added that she has been fortunate to make strong bonds with others in her field.

She said, “The girls I have met have honestly been so amazing but when I meet those girls, they tell me about other trips they’ve been on they’re like horror stories, of girls being so rude, everyone’s catty, no one wants to support one another, so I’m very happy that I’ve found a well-rounded group of girls – we uplift each other, support and are always there for each other.”

ADVICE

Kloot offered some advice for those looking to pursue a career in modelling.

She said, “You just have to put yourself out there.”

“You have to at least try or else you’re never going to know, you’re gonna fail. So, as long as you do it, you will surprise yourself. It’s always a fun ride. The journey has been amazing for me, looking back at myself to now, I think that’s the biggest thing that’s just rewarding to see.”

When she is not on the road and is back home in Coaldale, Kloot said she likes to hang out with her friends and family, play darts, and works at Land-O-Lakes Golf & Country Club during the summer.

Up next for Kloot will be a magazine shoot in Tulum at the end of March and preparation for the next Miami Swim Week, scheduled for May 29 to June 5, 2024.

READ MORE: Lethbridge News Now.

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