Tale of Two Girls: An Interview with Haley Kalil
Once upon a time, in a tiny town in Minnesota, there lived a beautiful lab rat named Haley Kalil. There she thrived working in labs while studying to become a physician; but the striking redhead had two dreams. One of which was already in pursuit while the other required a pumpkin carriage ride to New York City. Feeling satisfied with one goal, she went in search of her fairy godmother. The Sports Illustrated Swimsuit casting bippity-bopped her into a life of an in-demand fashion model. Now, she lives happily ever after wearing both her glass slippers and lab coat, traveling the world, and supporting other women to pursue their dreams and fulfill their fairytale ending.
Photographer: Christian Michel
Born and raised in Minnesota, Haley Kalil is a quirky, nerdy and outgoing tomboy at heart, known for her love of fishing, hiking, rock climbing, snowboarding, and everything in between. However, the most interesting facet of Kalil’s life is not her hobbies or where she was born, but instead who she was born from. Both of her parents are scientists — mechanical engineers to be precise — and as such, her passion for science and math almost literally runs through her veins. Before setting her sights on the big apple, Kalil studied various sciences in college. The four-year Sports Illustrated Swimsuit veteran was a 4.0 GPA student at St. Cloud State University where she majored in Biomedical Sciences and Psychology with a minor in Chemistry. With plans to become a physician, Kalil, however, was always drawn to modeling.
Growing up in her small town, Kalil knew very little about the fashion industry. “Of course, I’d buy every issue of Vogue, Sports Illustrated Swimsuit, Elle — you name it — but I never dreamed that I could be a part of this magical mysterious world,” she says drawing parallels between herself and a certain Disney princess who was too straddling two different worlds while maintaining a perfect red blowout. Her first introduction to the industry was the 2017 Sports Illustrated Swimsuit open casting call in Brooklyn. “I was YouTubing how to go to a modeling casting the night before,” laughed the model. “My journey has been so unique and that’s why I treasure it so much.” The brainy beauty quickly picked up the skills she needed to thrive in this industry. Now, her portfolio includes a number of big hitters like Maybelline, Sketchers, Journelle, and Kohl’s. “I love my job because it’s never the same,” shares Kalil. “I’m always in a different state or country. I’m always meeting new people and exploring new places. I’m always working to be better and do better. It's constant growth and hunger to accomplish all your dreams.”
“Confidence is key and you are your biggest competition.”
Acting as a beacon in a prominent industry known, but often overlooked, confidence must be at the fore for a leader of this caliber. Turns out, the same trait is important in the competitive world of modeling. “Confidence is key and you are your biggest competition,” states Kalil. “The modeling industry is hard. You are judged on your physical appearance and that is difficult for many people to handle. Just knowing that you are enough and that a ‘no’ doesn’t mean there’s something wrong with you. A ‘no’ just means it wasn’t the right place or time. But that ‘yes’ will come… and if you stay humble, focused and work hard, it will happen at the perfect time!” Amassing an online community of over 400K followers, all eager to see what this multi-hyphenate bombshell is up to next can bring forth any variety of pressures. So how does this scientist with the perfect smile and the notable repertoire remain true to herself? “[I see] digital media as a highlight reel,” shares Kalil. “I try my best to show my followers my real life… the good, bad and ugly. No one is perfect and I never want a young girl to look at my Instagram or other social media platforms and think ‘I wanna be her.’ I want her to look at my platform and be inspired to love herself for who she is and what she brings to this world. I used to be the young girl looking at all my favorite models pages and idolizing their ‘perfect lives.’ I don’t want a page that seems flawless. I want someone to look at my page and say ‘I want to have a burger, fries, and a beer with her.’”
Modeling is just one side of who Kalil is. Although most days she is in hair and makeup and in front of a camera, Kalil still treasures her time in goggles and behind a microscope. To help her stay connected to her passion for science, the model launched The Nerd Herd, and organization where the goal is simply stated, but tackles major issues for women in the STEM — science, technology, engineering, and math — fields. “I started The Nerd Herd last year after witnessing the double standards in the way that men and women are treated in the STEM fields,” shares Kalil. “I have friends who are doctors and engineers that tell me they are terrified to post a swimsuit photo because they think their coworkers will have less respect for them. I saw a huge need within the STEM fields for women to be respected as the multidimensional beings they are.” The Nerd Herd is Kalil’s passion project which advocates for a society where women can embrace all of who they are and not be confined to the proverbial “box” society puts them in, acting as a safe place for women to embrace both their body and their mind. Kalil uses her platforms to encourage women to enter into STEM industries, but also encourages them to live authentically — a duality Kalil knows well. This year, The Nerd Herd is launching a loungewear campaign where 100% of the proceeds from the first launch are going to organizations that help bring young women into STEM.
Photographer: Jake Rosenberg
“I want to be the bright light for someone. I want to uplift and make people laugh.”
Photographer: Derek Kettela
Unapologetic for always being herself — “a geek, a nerd, a weirdo, a goofy human who loves to live life and have fun, and who will never apologize for being herself” — is the heart of Kalil’s relatability and impact in every industry she masters. “I want to be the bright light for someone,” heartens the model. “I want to uplift and make people laugh.” Catch her on the street and her off-duty model look is drawn from her tomboy, Minnesotan childhood. Kalil dons oversized Gap denim, crop tops, and Nikes paired with one of her go-to accessories — her Off-White bag or Burberry backpack. Preferring to don a natural face with gloss and glow, the model swears by her skin care routine, boasting approachable and affordable brands like The Ordinary and CeraVe. Of course, keeping sure she is always stocked on her hero beauty product, sunscreen. “I use CeraVe because it’s light and doesn’t cause breakouts. It goes flawlessly under any makeup,” shares Kalil. While quality skincare and the ultimate girl next door motif are the perfect accent to any body, so is listening. “Your body is so beautifully designed and it knows what it needs and doesn’t need. Always listen to what your body is telling you,” encourages the model. “If you need to rest… rest. If you are ready to hit it hard in the gym… go beast it out. If you are hungry… give your body proper nutrition. DON’T let any negative inner voices or outer voices dictate how you eat or how often you work out. It’s very easy, especially as a young female, to get into a negative headspace about your body. Your body is a beautiful thing that carries you through life. Treat it as the treasure it is.”
Next for the self-proclaimed unapologetic nerd, is ticking off a few more goals. “I want to do more magazine covers and I’d like to work with Victoria’s Secret and other companies that encourage and empower women,” shares Kalil. “I want to continue to grow The Nerd Herd and have it become a beautiful place for women to come together and support each other. I want to accomplish all my dreams and encourage and uplift everyone I meet along the way. And know that your dreams are possible. If this little lab nerd from Minnesota could make her dreams come true… you can too!”
Photographer: Nick Suarez
“Know that your dreams are possible.”