HAILEY

BENSON

A Multifaceted Artist

When selecting the cover story for our fashion issue, we found ourselves at a crossroads. Should we spotlight a visionary fashion designer and their creative journey? A model deeply embedded in the community? Or perhaps a producer, the mastermind behind breathtaking runway shows? After much deliberation, the answer became clear.

Enter Hailey Benson—a true force in the industry. With a strong foundation in interior design, Hailey has seamlessly woven her artistic sensibilities into the world of fashion. A stunning model with years of experience, she has since expanded her craft into production, orchestrating runway shows and styling captivating photoshoots. She is the epitome of versatility, proving that one can excel across multiple facets of the fashion world.

As she prepared for our cover shoot, we sat down for an intimate conversation on this enchanting evening at the Blood and Blush Studios.

Vessel: Hello, Hailey! Thank you for taking the time to meet with us today. Could you introduce yourself to our readers?

Hailey: Hi! I’m Hailey Benson, though many still know me as Hailey Spung on social media and in some of my agencies. I got married, so now I’m officially Hailey Benson. I’m originally from Idaho, moved to Salt Lake when I was 17, then spent several years in Denver before coming back to Salt Lake—maybe not permanently, but for now. I grew up in a house full of girls—I have three sisters and no brothers. And I absolutely love the arts.

Vessel: How did your journey into the modeling industry begin?

Hailey: I think I always knew it was something I’d end up doing—it was just a matter of time. When I was around 12 to 14, I wanted to be a movie costume designer or a fashion designer. I was constantly drawing dresses and outfits. My favorite childhood game was playing with paper dolls, but not because I was pretending with them—I just loved designing and making their clothes. So, modeling naturally fit into that creative passion.

While in Salt Lake for college, studying interior design, I started dipping my toes into modeling. I did a few shoots here and there, nothing too serious at first. Then, one day, I was modeling at an exotic car show when someone approached me and said, “You should go meet with my agency.” So, I did. I’ve been with Urban Talent in Salt Lake ever since, and I’ve also signed with other agencies out of state.

Vessel: What are some of your favorite aspects of being a model?

Hailey: I love playing characters—it’s kind of like acting. For commercial jobs, there’s not as much room for that, but when you get to be really creative, when you can pull emotion—whether it’s angst, excitement, or something else entirely—that’s when the magic happens.

I think this is why I’ve always been drawn to storytelling and performance. Some people get into modeling just to help pay for college, and once they graduate, they move on. But those who stay in the industry long-term are the ones who love creating. It’s not just about the results or the paycheck—it’s about the process. And honestly, there’s no part of it that I don’t enjoy.

Vessel: You’re a multi-faceted artist—how did you transition from modeling to styling and producing?

Hailey: It all kind of overlaps, doesn’t it? Like I mentioned, when I was 12, I wanted to be a movie costume designer. Then, I found myself in fashion and modeling, which naturally led to styling and production.

I’ve always loved clothing, but I’ve never been a huge brand-name person. I’m more drawn to texture, shape, color, and pattern. For me, styling is about putting pieces together as an art form rather than focusing on labels. My background in interior design plays a big role in that. Just like designing a space, styling involves working with textures, patterns, balance, and composition. It’s all connected.

In Utah, a lot of models also end up styling. Sometimes, when there’s no wardrobe stylist on set, models take on that role themselves. Early on, I styled my own shoots and even did set styling. One of my favorite projects involved creating giant paper flowers, which are still some of my strongest portfolio images. So, styling and modeling have always gone hand in hand for me.

Then came production. I was on the producing team for Utah Fashion Week about 12 years ago, one of the first major fashion shows in Salt Lake. At the time, I was helping with model casting—partly because I knew a lot of the local models from shoots, so it just made sense. We ended up featuring 267 looks, using almost every model in Salt Lake City! It was such an incredible experience, working with amazing designers and putting together something really strong.

Salt Lake’s fashion scene has grown so much since then. Back in the day, there were hardly any fashion shows. Now, there are tons, sometimes even overlapping, each with its own niche. One of the shows I produced last June, in collaboration with Urban Talent, was a Pride show featuring LGBTQ+ designers. The energy was just different—in the best way.

Vessel: Beyond your work in the modeling industry, what other professions or passions do you pursue?

Hailey: I love interior design. I worked in it briefly after college before diving into modeling full-time. Maybe someday I’ll find another chapter where I can return to it, because I truly love everything about it.

I also love organization—which is funny because my husband would laugh at that, considering our house is always a mess. But I get a weird satisfaction from going into a space, making all my hangers match, and tidying everything up.

And, honestly, I love to travel. If I could quit everything and just travel forever, I’d be completely happy. Just disappear and never come back.

Vessel: With so much happening in your career and personal life, how do you balance it all?

Hailey: I don’t! That is a myth. (Ha ha ha.) No one is really balancing everything, I promise. I read something once—maybe an article or a podcast—where someone said, “Everyone drops balls. You just have to know which ones are glass and which ones are plastic.” You can’t drop the glass ones. Every part of your life has both, and the key is figuring out which ones you absolutely can’t let fall.

Some weeks, I’m killing it at work, but then I come home, and my house looks like a tornado hit it. It’s impossible to juggle it all perfectly. My husband’s career keeps him away half the month, so between work, kids, and side projects, balance is a joke. The only way to make it work is to just keep going—even if that means losing a little sleep.

Vessel: If you could go back to being 18, would you still choose modeling?

Hailey: Absolutely! But I’d be more intentional about it.

If I’d had more insight early on, I would have been more strategic with my shoots—what I was shooting, how I was building my portfolio. I’ve done over 500 shoots, and while some were really silly or questionable career choices, every single one helped me grow. Even the moments where I look back and think, “What was I doing? Painting my face pink?”—those were still learning experiences. So, I’d do things differently, but I’d 100% do it again.

Vessel: We’ve talked about the Salt Lake modeling scene before—could you share your thoughts on the opportunities available here?

Hailey: I think anyone with an interest in modeling can find a space for themselves—it just depends on how much effort they want to put in.

Some people assume modeling is easy, but there’s so much more to it. The models who really succeed are smart, business-savvy, and make intentional choices. It’s not just about being in front of a camera; it’s about understanding the industry and making it work for you.

Vessel: What are some of your hobbies? How do you like to unwind?

Hailey: I love throwing parties. Before I had kids, I’d throw elaborate themed parties just for fun—princess parties, spring garden parties, you name it. Now, I just use my kids’ birthdays as an excuse to go all out. If I throw them a jungle-themed birthday, you better believe I’m reusing those decorations for a dinner party later that week!

I also love traveling—anytime, anywhere. And I enjoy outdoor activities like hiking, paddleboarding, kayaking, and rock climbing. My absolute favorite, though, is ice skating. I’m not great at it, but I can get around a rink!

Vessel: To wrap things up, if you had to pick a TV or movie character that best represents you, who would it be and why?

Hailey: Oh, I’m the worst person to ask—I don’t really watch TV or movies! But I have seen Schitt’s Creek, and I love Moira Rose. She’s hilarious, though completely delusional.

But my all-time favorite character? Yzma from The Emperor’s New Groove. She’s this tiny, evil, old lady with dramatic fake lashes, and she’s absolutely ridiculous. My goal in life is to be that kind of crazy old lady. So, yeah—Yzma.

Vessel: That’s amazing. Thank you so much for spending this lovely evening with us. Let’s get to our photoshoot!

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