Hailey’s Story

Meet the Models, SoCal: Hailey Harris

For Hailey Harris, breast cancer was more than a diagnosis — it was a complete unraveling of life as she knew it. But in the space left behind, something new began to grow.

She was in the middle of hosting a Kentucky Derby–themed bourbon dinner when the call came. Laughter and music filled the room, guests clinked glasses, and Hailey stepped into a quiet corner to answer her phone. “I heard the words no one ever wants to hear,” she remembers. “And everything changed.”

Her first reaction wasn’t panic. It was an eerie, soul-deep calm. “It felt like my spirit already knew,” she says. “Time froze for a second. I could see my life split into a ‘before’ and an ‘after.’”

That moment marked the beginning of a transformation that would reshape every part of her identity.

Cracked Open, Made Whole

After her diagnosis, Hailey’s life unraveled and rebuilt itself in equal measure. The journey took her through intense treatment, hospital stays, and ultimately, the terrifying reality of being told to prepare for hospice care in the summer of 2023. But then—when all hope seemed lost—a last-chance treatment worked. She got a second chance at life.

“Now, at 44, this year feels like more than just special,” she says. “It feels sacred.”

Metastatic breast cancer is still part of her story, but it no longer owns her narrative. Instead, she’s found power in vulnerability, leaving behind an unfulfilling marriage, embracing spiritual healing, and showing her two children what it means to live life authentically.

“Cancer cracked me open,” Hailey says. “But it also woke me up. I walk with more clarity, purpose, and strength than ever before.”

The People Who Held Her

Through the darkest chapters, Hailey leaned on a small but unwavering circle — therapists, a life coach, trusted friends, and family members who could truly meet her where she was. “They were my anchors,” she says. “They helped me move through fear rather than shut down.”

Her two boys remained her constant motivation. “Even when my body felt like it was giving out, they kept me going.”

One of the most meaningful expressions of support didn’t come in grand gestures, but in the gentle presence of those who showed up with joy, lightness, and love. Her inner circle helped organize the chaos of her daily life, crossed items off her bucket list, and — most importantly — made her feel like herself again.

“They didn’t tiptoe around me,” she says. “They brought laughter and reminded me who I was. That kind of love is unforgettable.”

Lessons in Presence

For Hailey, cancer revealed more than medical realities — it illuminated what truly matters. She learned that being surrounded by people doesn’t always mean feeling understood. “The emotional weight of reassuring everyone I was ‘okay’ was sometimes heavier than the chemo.”

But it also led her to a surprising place of spiritual and emotional clarity. “I became more awake, more connected to my truth. It wasn’t just my body fighting cancer — my soul was fighting for me.”

Now, she encourages others to release the need to be perfect helpers and instead, simply show up.

“You don’t have to fix anything,” she says. “Just be there. Consistently. Gently. Let us feel human, not handled.”

A Sacred Second Chance

As Hailey prepares to walk in her first Runway for Recovery show in Southern California, it’s more than a celebration — it’s a reclaiming.

This year, two years after her initial diagnosis and nearly a year after her close call with hospice, she is living more fully than ever. “I’m healing, growing, and soaking in every moment with my children. It’s not just a good year — it’s a sacred one.”

Her advice for others: “Your diagnosis isn’t your identity. Let it change you—but don’t let it define you.”