Model citizen: VintageNOW cover model Hayley Keith's future plans extend far beyond the runway

Hayley Keith didn't know her life was going to change three years ago when she walked into Pastimes Antiques in downtown Cape Girardeau.

"I always watched 'America's Next Top Model,'" she says. "And because I'm tall people always told me to be a model or a basketball player. But I'm not coordinated at all, so basketball was out."

She didn't know modeling was in, either, until Pastimes owner Deb Maevers spotted her.

Maevers was in the process of planning the first VintageNOW fashion show to benefit the Safe House for Women.

"First of all, (I noticed) her height," Maevers says. "And, of course, she's just drop-dead gorgeous. We were planning our very first show and I was keeping an eye out for models."

Hayley and her sister, Chalice, both ended up walking the runway for VintageNOW in 2010.

After that, Hayley would sign with Centro Models in St. Louis and Ford Models in Chicago. She missed the second VintageNOW show because she was in St. Louis filming "Remodeled" for the CW, but was back on the runway for VintageNOW 3.

Hayley Keith walks the runway at the VintageNOW 3 fashion show. (Southeast Missourian file)

Modeling has opened a world of opportunities and experiences for the Bollinger County girl.

"I lived in Chicago last summer," she says. "It was a great experience, between high school and college, living in the city (alone)."

She's worn clothes she never thought she'd wear, designed by names you'd recognize from Hollywood's red carpets.

"I did a shoot for a magazine wearing vintage Valentino and Gucci," she says. "We did it outside with cool props. There was another girl and we pretended to be twins."

But as much fun as modeling is and as many places as it has taken her, it isn't responsible for one life-changing experience.

"I did a Heart for Africa mission trip," Hayley says. "The poverty and lack of care and (lack of) parents broke my heart. I wanted to devote the rest of my life to helping (children)."

That's why modeling isn't Hayley's life goal. She's a student at Southeast Missouri State University studying pre-med. Her goal? To earn a medical degree and do pediatric mission work in Africa.

"She is the complete package," Maevers says. "Not only is she beautiful, she's smart and has a very big heart. She does a lot of community work. You kind of scratch your head and think, 'Is this girl for real?'."

For now, Hayley is not only walking in VintageNOW's fourth fashion show, she's also the cover model for the event's promotional materials.

Maevers says the VintageNOW board thought Hayley's look was perfect for this year's theme: "Great Gatsby"-inspired looks from the 1920s.

"We thought she'd be perfect for the era," Maevers says.

And while Hayley says she prefers photo shoots to walking the runway, there is an exception: The VintageNOW show.

"My favorite thing is the VintageNOW," she says. "It's the only charity show (I've done). I love what's behind it. There's less pressure and you're doing it (to help) other people."

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Deb Maevers, owner of Pastimes Antiques and founder and executive director of VintageNOW, says this year's show is going to have lots of sparkle and shine, befitting its 1920s theme.

"We've been saving clothes (for months) in our back storage area," Maevers says. "It'll be fun. It's been a little difficult to find pieces from that era. But sometimes in life, the more difficult (it is) makes it worth the hunt."

Last year, VintageNOW raised more than $41,000 for the Safe House for Women.

This year's show will be Tuesday, Oct. 22, at The Venue. The doors open at 6 p.m. and the show starts at 7. Tickets can be purchased now at vintagenowfashionshow.com.

VintageNOW's 2014 calendar can be purchased online or at the show.