Rising Stars: Meet Hayley Spitaleri and Bailey Peyton of Los Angeles

Today we’d like to introduce you to Hayley Spitaleri, Bailey Peyton.

Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
Hayley: I grew up in a big Italian family just outside of Boston — loud, loving, a little chaotic, and full of personality. I was often labeled “the quiet one,” which meant I learned early on that being seen and heard didn’t always come naturally. Even so, I’ve always been a leader at heart — an advocate, a problem-solver, and someone who instinctively looks for solutions, even as a kid. Finding my voice was something I had to grow into.

That really started to shift in high school when I attended an all-girls Catholic school, Notre Dame Academy. It was the first place where I was encouraged to speak up, lead, and trust my strengths. That confidence stayed with me as I moved into my career and took on bigger roles at bigger companies which eventually led me to entrepreneurship. While my career has had a lot of twists and turns, looking back, the through-line has always been about creating space for honesty, for growth, and for people to be seen and heard exactly as they are.

Bailey: I’m a former musical theater kid turned model and content creator. Growing up, I was always center stage—and while my creative paths have evolved, that’s still where I feel most at home. I lead with a big, bold personality, naturally becoming the girl who brings everyone together in a room.
I struggled with body image early on as the “bigger girl” among my friends and castmates, a narrative that followed me through my teenage years as I played Tracy Turnblad in Hairspray multiple times—the token big girl of musical theater.
In my twenties, I set out to shift the narrative. I wanted to prove I could be more than the plus-size standard or the girl next door. I’d always been told I had a “pretty face,” just not the body for modeling—so in 2018, I did it anyway. I signed with an agency and went on to model for brands like True Religion, Forever 21, MeUndies, and more. That journey became the foundation of my social media presence: the confident, real, raw, and relatable bestie who found her power despite everyone who told her she couldn’t.
I now work full-time in social media, bringing my authentic voice to every platform and partnering with brands that genuinely align with my message. I have big dreams for this next season of my story, and I hope your readers will follow along as I bring them to life.

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Hayley: Has it been a smooth road? Not at all. One of the biggest challenges has been learning that the world doesn’t pause for us, even when we’re trying to grow, start something new, or take on big things. It’s easy to get caught up in the chaos of so many moving pieces and wish life would just hit “pause” for a moment so you can catch your breath…but it doesn’t work like that.
I could be on a major call with an investor, and at the same time, my toddler might “desperately” need me to fetch his car from under the couch. The real struggle has been creating space for both worlds to exist at the same time. Wanting to be a present, loving parent while also building something impactful in the world. Navigating that tension has been messy, humbling, and exhausting at times, but it’s also taught me patience, creativity, and the importance of showing up fully and responsibly, even when life doesn’t slow down for us.

Bailey: Smooth road? We don’t know her. I’m a firm believer that anything worth having takes time, and that having space to struggle is a normal—and necessary—part of living a big life. I haven’t grown at the pace I once imagined for my career, but I have protected my authenticity, and that matters more to me than anything else.
I want to foster a community that truly trusts me—one that knows my heart, who I am, and what I stand for. If that means slower growth, I’m okay with that. I also don’t thrive in small spaces, and my work often requires room—shooting at home, creating freely—so I’ve had to find ways to make it work in order to keep doing what I love.
One commitment I’ve learned is essential for me to operate well is balance: making time for morning movement for my mental health, putting my phone down at night so I can be fully present with my boys, and saying no when something feels like too much. This past year—especially my second postpartum experience—has taught me that I don’t want to live in constant hustle. I want to be booked and balanced.

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
Hayley: My work has always centered on impact, storytelling, and building meaningful connection. I began my career in corporate marketing, where I developed a strong foundation in shaping ideas into initiatives that resonate and create tangible results. But everything shifted after a service trip to Haiti, where witnessing profound disparities in access, opportunity, and basic resources forced me to reevaluate what impact truly means.

That experience led me to launch A Labor of Love, a community and ecommerce platform rooted in impact and creating genuine win-win outcomes for both brands and communities. It was my first step into purpose-driven work that felt deeply aligned with my values.

As that mission evolved, it naturally expanded into the next chapter: A Splash More. Through the podcast, I focus on amplifying women’s voices and creating space for honest, nuanced conversations about growth, motherhood, ambition, and identity. The platform is designed to foster connection while challenging the idea that women need to shrink themselves to succeed.

What I’m most proud of is the work itself; creating spaces that allow for honesty, reflection, and real connection. I care deeply about approaching storytelling with thoughtfulness and intention, and about building things that feel human. At the core of everything I do is a belief that stories can create understanding, open doors, and remind people they’re not alone… and that’s what continues to guide my work.

Bailey: I’m known as your real, raw, and relatable internet bestie—the bold, bubbly girl’s girl you can always count on. I specialize in unfiltered midsize fashion, postpartum wellness, mom life, and confidence, and I’ve built an incredible global community of women who see my corner of the internet as a true safe space.
I’m currently working on several upcoming projects I can’t quite share yet—but trust me, you won’t want to miss what’s coming. After welcoming my second son and knowing it would be my final pregnancy, I took a step back to reflect on what I want to be known for moving forward: how I use my voice online, what my world looks like in this next chapter, and how I can anchor big, meaningful moments into that vision. Some really exciting things are on the horizon. While that does involve taking a step back from A Splash More, I know I’m honoring what’s best for me and leaning into my truest self.
What I’m most proud of is how I show up online every day—with honesty and intention. By openly sharing my experiences with postpartum depression and my breast reduction, I’ve helped hundreds of women rediscover themselves in motherhood and step into a new confidence in their bodies. Making a difference through vulnerability has always been my superpower, and being able to do that in such a powerful way feels incredibly rewarding.

Before we let you go, we’ve got to ask if you have any advice for those who are just starting out?
Hayley: Two main things…
1- Trust your instincts
2 – Your integrity, your follow-through and your willingness to learn from every person and experience (good or bad) will continue to guide you towards success.

Bailey:
My advice: Say yes strategically and no unapologetically. Early on, opportunities matter—but burnout will steal your creativity faster than rejection ever will. Choose what aligns, even if it’s slower.
Let growth be messy. Progress isn’t linear, and struggle doesn’t mean you’re failing—it means you’re stretching. Give yourself permission to be bad, awkward, inconsistent, and learning in public. That’s how real confidence is built.
What I wish I knew starting out: Build a life you don’t need to escape from. Big dreams are exciting, but balance is what sustains them. Make time for your body, your people, and your peace. Success hits differently when you’re actually well enough to enjoy it.
And finally: don’t shrink to fit rooms—build bigger rooms. The world doesn’t need another copy. It needs you, fully (and I think you’re pretty amazing) 😉

Contact Info:

• Website: https://open.spotify.com/show/10G5jOK7qE7mkbBsLWN2yb
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thebaileyp/ and https://www.instagram.com/asplashmore/

Image Credits
Image Credits, A Splash More Podcast