In an industry that often asks young women to dress for the gaze of others, Laya DeLeon Hayes dresses for her own reflection. And that reflection, as her gallery proves, is nothing short of stunning.
To browse the fashion and style gallery of Laya DeLeon Hayes is to witness a masterclass in intentionality. From the Disney carpets of 2012 to the NAACP red carpets of today, she has never been a passive participant in her own presentation. Each garment, each accessory, each hairstyle is a sentence in a larger story—a story about a young Black Latina who refuses to be diminished, who uses fashion as a language of power, heritage, and self-definition. Laya Deleon Hayes Nude
Her stylist, who has worked with her for three years (and who requested to remain unnamed for this piece), describes Hayes as a "collaborative visionary." "Most celebrities come with a mood board. Laya comes with a mood book . She knows fashion history. She can tell you the difference between a 1980s Mugler and a 2020s Mugler reinterpretation. She’s not a mannequin; she’s an editor." In an industry that often asks young women
This is the "cocoon stage" of her style evolution. Designers like Staud, Ganni, and Sergio Hudson began appearing in her rotation. At the 2019 premiere of The Lie at the Toronto International Film Festival, Hayes arrived in a tailored, burnt-orange blazer dress with exaggerated shoulders and matching stiletto boots. The look was a statement: I am no longer a child actor. Her hair, worn in a dramatic side-part with sleek, defined curls, framed a face that had traded baby softness for high cheekbones and a knowing gaze. From the Disney carpets of 2012 to the
What comes next for Laya DeLeon Hayes’ fashion legacy? If her trajectory continues, expect to see her at the Met Gala within three years, likely in a look that deconstructs the theme through a diasporic lens. Expect a potential collaboration with a sustainable fashion brand, given her public disdain for fast fashion. And expect her to continue mentoring younger actresses of color on navigating the industry’s often punishing beauty standards.
The current chapter of Laya DeLeon Hayes’ style gallery is the most arresting. With her critically acclaimed turn as Delilah (a young vigilante-in-training) in CBS’s The Equalizer opposite Queen Latifah, Hayes has entered the A-list conversation. Her fashion has risen to meet the moment.
During this period, her style gallery is dominated by A-line dresses, floral prints, and soft pastels. Think lavender tulle overlays, white kitten heels, and hair styled in neat, high buns or natural curls. At the 2016 Emmy Awards (where Doc McStuffins won for Outstanding Children's Animated Series), Hayes wore a custom navy blue number with a sequined bodice and a flowing chiffon skirt. The look was age-appropriate but never childish—a first hint of the discerning fashion eye she would later develop.
