Hailey Gates

Hailey Benton Gates is an American model, actress, director, and journalist. She is best known for hosting the Viceland investigative docu-series States of Undress, which focuses on the political and social circumstances surrounding fashion weeks around the world.

Gates grew up in the Los Angeles area, where her family has lived for seven generations. Her parents separated during her childhood. She is from a prominent family; her maternal grandmother is screenwriter Joan Tewkesbury, and her great-grandfather served as the first mayor of Santa Monica. In 2012, she graduated from the Tisch School of the Arts at New York University with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in experimental theater.

Upon graduating from New York University in 2012, Gates began her career working as an editor and director of advertising at The Paris Review. She remained with the literary magazine until 2015. Alongside her editorial work, Gates established a career in modeling, appearing on the July/August 2011 cover of Jalouse magazine and starring in advertising campaigns for brands such as Target, Costume National, and Miu Miu, the latter shot by Steve Meisel. She signed with M Model Management.

In addition to modeling, Gates expanded into film production and acting. She co-wrote and produced A Space Program, a 2015 docudrama created with artist Tom Sachs, which earned a positive review from The New York Times. That same year, she appeared as Emily in the feature film Ricki and the Flash. Gates then hosted States of Undress on Viceland, which saw its second season premiere on June 6, 2017.

Gates continued taking on acting roles in television and film projects. She had a small role as a drugged-out mother in the 2017 Showtime reboot of Twin Peaks, directed by David Lynch. In 2019, she appeared in the Safdie brothers' feature film Uncut Gems. She also played Charli XCX's creative director, Celeste, in Aidan Zamiri's mockumentary titled The Moment.

As a director, Gates premiered her short film Shako Mako in Los Angeles in January 2019. Starring Alia Shawkat, the short was produced for Miu Miu's Women's Tales series, an initiative featuring works directed by women. In 2023, Gates wrote and directed the feature-length film Atropia, which featured a cast including Alia Shawkat and Callum Turner. As of May 2016, she resides on the Upper West Side of New York City.