Today we’d like to introduce you to Hayley Himmelman.
Hi Hayley, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I grew up acting, singing and dancing because I watched my older sister doing the same for years! I loved to write and direct my own projects and my 2nd grade teacher even famously allowed my class to rehearse a play I wrote and directed for a month, and then surprised me with my own director’s chair at the public performance! My high school had a super competitive musical theater program where I continued to push myself, and I ended up getting into Northwestern University’s Musical Theatre Certificate Program after many years of hard work and persistence. I continued my passion for writing and directing theater that strived for social change, specifically in the realm of sex trafficking and sexual assault on college campuses. After graduating, I lived in Chicago for a while and had about 20 different jobs, including server, nanny, princess impersonator, murder mystery performer, kids’ hip-hop teacher, math tutor, organizational consultant, Bar Mitzvah dancer, stylist at a clothing store, front desk at a spa, and toddler yoga teacher! Creatively, I also got into modeling after a friend introduced me to the thriving modeling and photography community in Chicago. Eventually I decided to move to LA to focus on screen acting (and get some sunshine!), where I worked in the tech and cannabis industry as a social media manager while pursuing my acting. After leaving that industry, I struggled to find work and the industry was super slow, but a brand new job started cropping up that encapsulated everything that I’ve been passionate about — intimacy coordination! Currently, I’m almost fully-trained by Intimacy Directors and Coordinators, have multiple professional jobs under my belt, and continue working as an actor and model :).
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Definitely not a smooth road, but mentioned some of those struggles in my last answer! Work being inconsistent, especially since the pandemic and the SAG strike really pulled back productions and there have been so few opportunities compared to the past. But it has motivated me to collab with creators in my communities and create the work for ourselves! Another struggle has been my mental health – I am very open with people in my life about having diagnosed OCD. I started using medication a few years ago and find therapy to be incredibly instrumental in helping me on my mental health journey.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I think my empathy and ability to NOT judge others is my strength and what I’m known for in my community! Acceptance and empathy are key to helping others feel comfortable, which has been instrumental in my work as an Intimacy Coordinator and even in my personal life creating lasting relationships with collaborators and friends. I pride myself on leading with my heart, spreading love and light, and constantly striving for others to feel seen, heard and understood by me.
Risk taking is a topic that people have widely differing views on – we’d love to hear your thoughts.
Entering into this field was a huge risk, and I don’t take it lightly that I’m privileged enough to be in it to this day! If I didn’t have the support from my family to keep persisting, I would’ve given up long ago. But I’ve always trusted my family’s judgment, and they’ve always encouraged me to stick with what I love 🙂
Contact Info:
- Website: https://Www.hayleyhimmelman.com
- Instagram: https://Instagram.com/hayhimmel
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@hayhimmz
Image Credits
Hieu Cao
Dave Chen
Dana Patrick
Manny Perez
Sotahboy
Valeria Franklin
Jeff Dransfeldt
