By the time supermodel Hailey Clauson was 16 years old she had already walked in Fashion Week for household names like Calvin Klein and Versace, was splashed across the pages of Japanese and Italian Vogue and appeared as the face of Gucci. “It was crazy because I was away from home a lot,” says the now New York-based Californian who was discovered and signed on the spot after an open call at 13. “I didn’t experience the normal high school years, but I learned so much from what I was doing because I got to travel.” The blonde-haired, blue-eyed bombshell, who exudes a natural, cool-girl confidence, has now landed in Sports Illustrated’s swimsuit edition. “It was one of my goals so it was exciting to accomplish that,” she says.
And Clauson, who finds inspiration from models like Veruschka, makes it all look so effortless. “It’s definitely a full-time job,” she says. “You have work out the days you’re not working, travel and somehow look pretty after flying twelve hours. It’s not like you show up on set and take three photos and you’re done.”
To stay in shape, Clauson works out five days a week, mixing it up with boxing, running and an ab, leg and butt regimen. That coupled with a clean, healthy diet of veggies, organic meats, fruits, quinoa and brown rice keeps her fueled during her sometimes 14-hour days.
To help her keep the energy levels high on set, Clauson turns to an upbeat playlist. “You’re shooting long hours so you want to keep yourself and the crew awake and excited. It shows in the photos if everyone’s tired and bored. Music makes a big difference,” she says. “I have no pre-show rituals, I just go for it and try not to think about it too much. But right when I walk on set, I make sure that there’s music playing.”
Here, she shares some of those photo shoot tunes.
Photo courtesy of One Management
