Haley Kalil Gets Candid About Why She No Longer Works With Modeling Agents

The four-time SI Swimsuit model shared her struggles breaking into the industry in a recent YouTube video.

Haley Kalil.Rob Kim/Getty Images

SI Swimsuit model Haley Kalil is getting candid about the reality of breaking—into and staying relevant in—the modeling industry.

The Minnesota native’s first gig was with SI Swimsuit, and prior to co-winning the Swim Search in 2018, she had no modeling experience. Kalil had just graduated from college and was on track for medical school to be a nurse when she saw the open casting call announcement and decided to apply.

The 30-year-old revealed details about her past experiences in a recent YouTube video appropriately titled, “Let’s discuss all things modeling, my modeling journey, and my issues with the modeling industry.”

Taking a risk

Kalil said she “idolized” SI Swimsuit along with brands like Guess and Victoria’s Secret. When she came across an opportunity to potentially work with the magazine, she knew it was worth a shot.

“I decided ‘what do I have to lose?’ I was in Colorado at a wedding and as I was getting ready I [filmed] a video,” she explained. “It wasn’t anything curated. I just told Sports Illustrated Swimsuit why I wanted to work for them. I didn’t know a videographer. I didn’t know somebody to do my hair and makeup. I didn’t know anyone in the industry at that time.”

A few weeks later, Kalil received a message on Instagram from the Swim Team and flew to New York to begin the process alongside 35 other women. She nailed her casting call, co-won the 2018 Swim Search with Camille Kostek and returned to pose for the magazine in ’19, ’20 and ’21.

The SI Swimsuit experience

In her YouTube video, Kalil gushed about feeling comfortable during her initial meetings with the SI Swimsuit team.

“All they did was make me feel incredible and amazing and I just couldn’t believe that these powerful women were taking the time out of their day to make me feel like even though I wasn’t a model, they wanted to know about me and hear from me,” the 30-year-old gushed. “I’m so grateful to Sports Illustrated Swimsuit for bringing me into the modeling industry, I wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for them.”

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Dealing with horrible agents

After her SI Swimsuit debut, Kalil worked with different modeling agencies and had various negative experiences with each. She was never paid on time and was regularly body shamed, lied to about nudity in photo shoots, reprimanded for quirky Instagram posts and told to “be less talkative” because she was just a “hanger” for clothes.

“I just could not believe the way that my agent talked to me,” she continued. “Now that I’m out of the industry, the amount of girls I have talked to that have similar experiences to me is mind blowing. People were told they were too fat, too skinny, not pretty enough. Modeling should be about capturing beauty and beauty should not be unhealthy.”

As soon as Kalil stopped listening to rude and unsupportive agents who only cared about money, she said her career “took off.”

Kalil’s advice for women entering the industry

Kalil said she no longer works with modeling agents and doesn’t plan on ever going back to an agency.

“I don’t want anyone in my life that makes me feel less than or makes other people feel less than,” she continued.

In the video, Kalil encouraged young women who are trying to enter the industry to make sure they are legally protected because when models try to get out of their contracts, their agencies could sue them.

“Most models are working paycheck to paycheck and they don’t even know when that paycheck is coming,” she added. “The modeling industry hasn’t changed as much as they say they have. Please please please do your research. Please make sure you are working with an agency that truly sees you and cares about you. I do not want any girl to go through what I went through in the modeling industry.”

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