Denver-based model Hailey Middleton, known in the Talent Management offices for her catwalk and print work, recently spoke to Erin Bleakley at trufflesnruffles.com about her modelling career.

In the interview, Middleton revealed the one piece of advice she would give to girls that want to be models: “Be true to yourself and don’t change something drastic to please people. You will constantly be rejected in this business, but it only takes one person to help take your career off the ground.

“It’s hard but worth the long difficult effort in the end, but don’t give into the stigmatisms of how models should be and eat and whatnot. It is important to be yourself, because ultimately, you are in this business by yourself, no one will be there to hold your hand, so make yourself happy.”

Middleton, who has a professional classical ballet background, also talked about how she got into modelling: “My mom was really involved in the industry, she was a buyer for a bunch of big stores in Portland and she put me in shows when I was little. Then when I started to get taller, I went to my agent and it took off from there. I have always been in love with the [fashion] industry and to be a part of it as a model is the best part.”

With countless editorials and catwalk jobs under her belt, there’s only one more thing we’re dying to know, and that’s who has been her favourite person to model for so far? “Betsey Johnson is always really fun,” she said. “I loved working with Helmet Lang and DVF, but it’s also always a pleasure to work with local and upcoming designers and clients, because they have a very unique and fresh look on the industry and how they want to make their part different from the rest.”