Hayett McCarthy

PHOTOS: CHRISTIAN BRYLLE. MODEL: HAYETT McCARTHY/IMG. CASTING: DAVID CHEN. SPECIAL THANKS: FAST ASHLEYS. 

Born in France and raised in London, Hayett Belarbi McCarthy joined IMG after she was spotted in a pub two years ago. Since then, she’s starred in campaigns for Coach (shot by Steven Meisel no less), Ellery, and Burberry, and walked for the likes of Marni, Hermès, and Rodarte.

THE PERSON I ADMIRE THE MOST:
My dad (luckily my mum doesn’t speak English, so she will never see this). He is my mentor and my punk rock, misanthropic confidant. He taught me so much, like, “If something or someone in life is bothering you, count to 10, and tell them to fuck off.” 

AN EVENT I WISHED I’D WITNESSED:
None. I always feel like I’m at the right place at the right time. If you really want a concrete answer, I’d say there’s an endless list of concerts I wish I had seen, but you can’t have everything. And it’s always nice hearing folks saying they were at such and such gig, all seemingly claiming to have been in the first row… 

QUESTIONS I CAN’T ANSWER:
Most of them.

MY BIGGEST ADVENTURE:
So far, coming across the pond to the big city, making amazing friends, putting on gigs, having a funky home, developing new skills, and being so far away from home. We don’t seem realize how big the planet actually is because of fast planes and 24/7 Instagram.

MY GREATEST ACHIEVEMENT:
I started organizing concerts with emerging bands and designing flyers and posters for them. Standing there and watching people feel the music of this curated, ephemeral night really makes me happy and love it more, vicariously. 

THINGS I’D LIKE TO IMPROVE ABOUT MYSELF:
I am trying to be less hard on myself regarding self-discipline. 

GAMES I PLAY:
Farkle (a six-die game) and bowling.

MY GREATEST VICE:
My monstrous drunchies.

THINGS I’LL BE REMEMBERED BY:

This is a bit grim. I think I’d be remembered by my chippy, positive energy and intense sensibility to little things and those around me. 

SOME THINGS I’D RATHER FORGET:
How great life was without smartphones. 

MY IDEA OF HAPPINESS:
Insatiable curiosity.

ONE LAST FAVOR I’D LIKE TO ASK:

Can you put the kettle on? 

For more from our “Beyond Here Lies Nothing” series, click here.