Cricket royalty and sports presenter Grace Hayden is using Australian Fashion Week to push back against the “old-school” tropes that suggest women can’t be both glamorous and credible in the profession.
The 23-year-old commentator, daughter of cricket legend Matthew Hayden, arrived at Sydney’s Museum of Contemporary Art today as a guest of Shark Beauty, ready to silence critics who have long scrutinised her style.
As the official presenting partner of AFW 2026, Shark Beauty is creating the runway looks for major designers such as Carla Zampatti and Alix Higgins, with Hayden leading the charge as the brand’s high-profile guest.
The media personality has built a serious career across Channel 7, Star Sports, and Fox Sports, and has become a familiar face covering everything from cricket to motorsports.
However, her rise in the male-dominated industry hasn’t come without its fair share of commentary on her appearance.
Speaking exclusively to news.com.au, Hayden addressed the double standard that sees female reporters’ outfit choices become headlines while their male counterparts go unnoticed.
“I think conversations around women in media and sport are constantly evolving, and with social media there’s naturally a lot more commentary around public figures in general now,” Hayden said.
“For me personally, I try not to focus too much on outside noise.”
She explained that she never set out to intentionally “challenge” the status quo, but rather wanted to bring her “authentic” self to her broadcasting roles.
“I’ve always believed you can be professional, prepared and respectful of the role while also embracing confidence and personal style,” she told news.com.au.
“Fashion has always been something I enjoy because it’s a form of self-expression, and I think there’s room for individuality in every industry.”
Despite being frequently labelled a “sex symbol” in sports media circles, the presenter remains unfazed by the labels people try to pin on her.
She said her priority is doing her job well, regardless of what she’s wearing or how she looks.
“Honestly, I try not to focus too much on labels at all,” she said.
“My priority has always been the work itself – being prepared, continuing to learn and showing up professionally in every role I take on.
“I feel incredibly grateful to work across sport, entertainment and fashion, and for me it’s always about growing, challenging myself and enjoying the opportunities that come with the job.”
Hayden says she views AFW as the perfect place to celebrate the design-led, eye-catching style she is known for, with less judgment around her outfit choices.
“For me, Fashion Week is about celebrating creativity, supporting Australian designers and embracing an industry I genuinely love being part of,” she explained.
“Working in television and sport, you naturally understand that people will always have opinions, but I’ve learnt to stay focused on the positives.”
Today, that focus is on the Carla Zampatti show, a label Hayden says represents “timeless elegance and confidence”.
Her outfit choice for the iconic brand’s runway is a nod to both the past and the present.
“My look is vintage Carla, very classic and refined – it’s a gold sequined skirt with a black fluffy jacket,” she revealed. “But it still feels modern and effortless.
“I love pieces that feel feminine yet strong at the same time.”
Hayden’s appearance at the event coincides with Shark Beauty’s massive footprint at this year’s festival, where Hair Director Madison Voloshin and Skin Director Isabella Schimid are leading the backstage direction for shows like Mariam Seddiq and Hansen & Gretel.
For Hayden, the “glam” process is almost as much fun as the runways.
“I’m so excited for the show and getting glammed up beforehand,” she said.
“Getting ready is honestly part of the fun – it’s such a huge part of the energy backstage and really captures that runway-ready feeling everyone gets caught up in during Fashion Week.”
Her bold outfit is already turning heads at Circular Quay, but Hayden wants people to remember “style is just one small part of who someone is”.