An Ohio teen will sport a TONI&GUY signature style as she struts the catwalk at a live America’s Next Top Model audition in New York City.
TONI&GUY Hairdressing Academy hosted a local casting call for the spring 2011 cycle of “America’s Next Top Model” at the academy on July 7, where a panel of judges chose one local contestant to represent Toledo in front of a live casting director in New York City later this month. The other videotaped auditions were submitted to the show following the July 7 casting call.
Haley Scott, of Grand Rapids, Ohio, visited the TONI&GUY Hairdressing Academy again on July 22 for a free makeover as part of her winning package. She received a new cut, colour and highlights, and a makeup application from TONI&GUY students Lauren Wiard and Nikki Bloom.
The 18-year-old daughter of Randy and Kathy Scott began pursuing modeling at age 15 adolescent taunting from her peers at school prompted Scott, a self-professed nerd, to strut into modeling.
“A lot of people said I couldn’t model, that I was too ugly,” Scott said, pursing her full lips in a grin. “I wanted to prove them wrong.”
The 2010 Otsego High School graduation started her training with a year of classes at the Margaret O’Brien's Starbound NYC, and then for another year at John Casablanca’s Modeling and Career Center, both in Toledo. She also participated in competitions such as a 2007 International Modeling and Talent Association (IMTA) event and worked with the New York City-based Model Management Group for a year. These past experiences have taught her that finding success in the modeling industry requires persistence.
“It’s a tough business,” Scott said, mentioning she was surprised by the stiff competition at the IMTA event. “You have to work hard.”
When it comes to her own fashion sense and style, Scott’s favorite designers are Ed Hardy creator Christian Audigier because of the crazy, stand-out tattoo art designs in his street wear line, and French couture designer Christian Lacroix.
“I love the crazy clothes, the high fashion, the couture – everything wild and out there,” Scott said. “I like to be different.”
Part of what Scott says makes her different is that she can go from describing her favorite necklace – a Betsey Johnson strawberry pendant – to passionately describing her love of video games and her penchant for collecting Japanese samurai swords.
“I just love the Japanese culture,” Scott said, adding that her collection of swords numbers 11. “I just love the creativity and art about them. They are beautiful.”
Her wide range of interests and quirky personality are what Scott – and her biggest supporters, her parents and boyfriend – say will set her apart among competitors as they vie to move to the next round of casting.
“They need more nerdy, pretty girls who aren’t afraid to be themselves,” Scott said.