Exclusive Interview With Hayley Hasselhoff

LookToTheStars.org’s Michelle Vink caught up with Hayley Hasselhoff recently to chat about her career and charity work.

I recently had the opportunity of meeting the beautiful young Hayley Hasselhoff as well as her father, David Hasselhoff and mother, Pamela Bach. Contrary to what the tabloids are saying, I observed a loving mother and father who both adore their daughters and are doing their best to get through a very difficult time. Both parents set aside their differences to come out and support their daughter when her board put on the charity event, “The Bash” to raise money for other teens at CHLA. Just as I first met Hayley at CHLA for the hospital visit, I witnessed a 16-year-old girl with a passion to help others with a desire to use her celebrity status to be a role model for her peers. This is an introduction to a resilient girl who understands the responsibility of being in the spotlight and is not afraid to shine.

On Hayley’s career dreams

You have been with Ford Modeling agency for a few years now and are now starting a career in the entertainment business. What are your long-term goals for your career?

My goals are to become an actress and singer. We have been in the recording studio working on our album since Christmas time but we had to postpone due to my sister living in Arizona for college. But she would fly back and forth during weekends to record. We have three songs already recorded so we are on our way to finishing our album. Also my sister has moved back to LA so we can work on pursuing our dreams together in a band.

If you could choose anyone to work with in the music industry, who would it be?

I think my sister and me would dream to open for TIESTO, Rhianna, Cascada, Deamau5, and Dj Kid Kudi. I would love to sing on stage with my father; I think that would be amazing. My sister and I are on my dad’s Christmas album singing a couple songs when we were little but we have never actually performed live with our dad.

Hayley has been practicing with her sister on a band called Bella Vida and hope to start touring together by next year. They told us at our last interview that they are already working on recording an album and are taking choreography lessons now to get ready.

Where do you see yourself in ten years?

In ten years I hope to have already toured with my sister for our band Bella Vida, to continue modeling, and starring in feature films.

You are such a strong, confident young woman. How were you able to find your confidence?

I was able to find my confidence by always believing in my morals and myself. I’m the one who leads my life not others and that’s helped me through a lot. I also found my confidence by being a plus size model. It showed me that girls are beautiful any size. [I believe] that every girl and guy should be confident in his or her own skin. It helped me gain confidence because – as every girl does – I’ve battled with weight for years and it showed me that everyone is beautiful no matter what society may say. I’ve finally been able to appreciate what God gave me.

What advice can you give to young girls that are struggling with their own self-esteem?

The advice that I would give to young girls who are struggling with their self-esteem would be to always be true to yourself and believe in yourself because one person can make a difference.

You have grown up in the spotlight, how has this affected you? What have you learned about being a celebrity?

It’s hard to grow up in the spotlight because your personal life seems to be not that personal anymore. But I have learned to get through it by being true to myself and to use being a celebrity in a good way by helping others and being able to reach out to people in need. I’ve also learned not to buy into the negativity people talk about my family or me. (I have learned) to only look at the good in life not the bad.

Who do you consider the most influential person in your life?

I consider my mother and father the most influential people in my life.

What have they taught you that has helped change you into the young woman you are today?

My mother and father have both brought me up to work hard for things I want. Yes, they have always helped me pursue my dreams, but they’ve always showed me that they may be able to open the door, but I am the one who has to work and prove that the door can be opened and stay open. Also to never hold grudges against people, to always forgive and forget because no one is perfect, and that people shouldn’t be perfect because if they were, no-one would be able grow if they didn’t make any mistakes.

What do you consider the most difficult time in your life?

I consider my parents’ divorce the most difficult time in my life because having a family break up destroys everyone.

How have you overcome it?

I overcame it by realizing that things in life don’t always work out the way you planned and that’s ok. You just need to take every day at a time and cherish what life has given you not what it’s taken away. A new journey is always a good one and makes you learn something new about yourself and the world around you.

I have heard you in interviews talk about how loyal you are to your family and how you have had to deal with so much gossip both at school and in the media. How has that negativity affected you?

It use to negatively affect me because gossip from the press most times are false accusations where many people who don’t know my family personally seem to feel like they do just because they’ve read about us or seen an interview. Where it gets hard to deal with cause others look at you in a different way when they shouldn’t because they don’t know the complete truth… and our family shouldn’t have to share the complete truth since we like to keep our personal life as private as possible.

How has it affected your family?

My family and I have learned to not have (bad) press affect us.

What can you say to teens that don’t think gossip really affects people?

I would tell teens that every piece of gossip – either publicized or just between a group of friends – affects everyone, because even if it’s true or false, it’s someone else talking about another behind their back or even in front of them, which hurts since it was probably something someone either wanted to keep personal or share with certain people, but something the person wanted to share, not have others share it for them.

Also gossip seems not always to be true so by having other people talk about someone else without actually going to the person they heard about could make others believe something about someone that could ruin their reputation.

You and your family have been through so much in the public eye. How have you managed to stay so strong and positive?

I’ve managed to stay strong and positive by not letting negativity affect me and to only make me stronger and to put a bigger guard around my heart. Also to stay very close and loyal to my family and to not let anything affect us. We all have a very open and close relationship, which has helped us through our struggles.

Why do you think it is so important to be a positive role model as a celebrity?

I think it is important to be a positive role model as a celebrity because although you don’t necessarily want people to be watching your every step, they do. So anything you do gets publicized. Also many people look up to celebrities, and if you’re not setting a good example then who is? You want to show people that being a celebrity is something to be cherished and that every celebrity is really just like you. It should be showing people not to change for others and to really lead their own life, and not to do what others do but to start your own path and be original. I hope by being a positive role model it will inspire others to do the same in their lives.

On Hayley’s charity work, and THE BASH fundraiser

You are so passionate about charity and philanthropy. What inspired you to first get involved?

My parents have always been involved in charity, they always taught me to give back. Ever since I was a little kid I would go to many charity events. One charity I have been involved with since I was younger was The Starlight Foundation that helps underprivileged families whose children needed medical attention. Even when I was a child my sister and I would make beaded bracelets and write letters to the children in Africa my parents would visit every year. I have a huge heart for others and if there is any way I could put a smile on another’s face I have always been the first one in line to do so. So by helping people in need it gives me joy in my life and I hope gives it in theirs. Just to let people in need know you’re thinking about them and really do care, goes a long way.

You and your dad visited the Children's Hospital Los Angeles with your board members from The Bash fundraiser. Why was this visit so special for you?

The visit was so special to me because I saw so many kids and teenagers just like me in a situation they didn’t ask for but unfortunately were forced to face. Each child I saw were very strong people and had such amazing hearts that shined through when you met them. Meeting their families was the hardest part because they all cared for their children or relative so much and wanted to help them in any way just to take the pain away. These kids were definitely inspirational to me in my life and showed me to cherish life everyday even if it’s a bad day because life is good no matter how many struggles you may go through.

Why did you decide to join your peers in this fundraising cause for teens?

I decided to join my peers in this fundraising cause for teens because it shows the teenagers in the hospital that kids their age are out there thinking about them and want to help in any way.

Do you feel like the event was worthwhile and you were able to make a difference? Is it something you would get involved with again?

This event was definitely – no doubt about it – worthwhile, I think I was able to make a difference by going to the hospital and talking to the teenagers and showing them we are out there doing a huge event to make a difference in their lives. I am definitely getting involved in this charity again and hopefully many more charities.

You have done a lot of charity work with your parents. Were there any other influences that motivated you to get involved?

My mother and father were very much apart of my inspiration to get involved in philanthropy. But there was this one day in my geography class in 6th grade at my old school Montclair prep where we watched this video about these kids in Russia that were in an orphanage and were affected by radiation in Russia and were terminally ill.

This Female American reporter went over to cover the story and it showed how the nurses taking care of the children wouldn’t give them much attention since they were about to die, and the American said to the nurses that they should be giving these children as much attention as possible to remember their last days of life as good ones. I walked out of my class bawling my eyes out. Ever since then I have always wanted to get more involved in charities and to one day have my own charity for kids who are terminally ill and that are orphans. It inspired me to be a better person and to use my life as a celebrities child and as a healthy person to help others in need because it’s the least I could do for these children who need someone to believe in them and give them hope for the future.

What are the causes that you are the most passionate about? Why?

I am most passionate about helping children any age who are unfortunately terminally ill. This is because I want to make their last years the most amazing ones and to try to find as many ways to find more options to try to cure their illness. I want to help give them a second chance in any way. Especially orphans who need to know that there are people out there who want to reach out and to take care of them so they know they have someone to be by their side through out the journey so they don’t feel alone.

What is the most memorable moment you have experienced in working with charities and non-profits?

There have been so many memorable moments in working with charities and non-profits. They have all brought joy to my life and each person I have met has made a difference in my life. I can’t say that there was only one moment that was so special for me because every moment has touched my heart and made a difference in my life and my outlook on life.

Do you feel like you can make a difference in the world?

I feel like anyone can make a difference in the world. If “The Bash” didn’t prove to you that anyone can make a difference no matter what age you are than I don’t know what will. Just bringing a smile to another goes a long way. There are so many ways you can make a difference in the world just making a difference in your life your making a difference in the world.

How do you hope to inspire others by your actions?

I hope to inspire others by my actions by letting them see that by helping other you don’t only just give back to them you learn more about appreciating life and loved ones around you. I hope to inspire people to get involved and to take time out of their day to realize how blessed they are and by helping others it will add joy to your life but also to people in need.

You are such a beautiful bright spirit with such positive energy and power to make a difference. If you could change anything about the world, what would it be?

If I could change anything in the world it would be to bring more passion for others around you and not only to care for yourself but also to think about others and try to make a difference. I think that making a difference in someone else’s life is the most important thing for the world. The world needs to focus more on making it better place and helping others then focusing on negativity and gossip.

Is there a piece of advice you can give to anyone interested in getting involved in making the world a better place and following their dreams?

The advice I would give would be that anyone can make a difference; never give up always following your dreams and ambitions. Always believe in yourself and know you can make a difference, and making a difference in someone else’s life will make a difference in yours.

Hayley Hasselhoff continues to make a difference in the lives of others and has already made a difference in her own personal life by living this philosophy. She isn’t afraid to stand up for what she believes in and support those around her. If she can embrace this philosophy at 16 years old, imagine the impact she can have in the future of Hollywood.

(Photo of Hayley and David Hasselhoff copyright Mario Sanchez. Photo of Taylor Hasselhoff and Pamela Bach copyright Glen Lipton. Reproduced by permission.)