{"id":422121,"date":"2026-05-11T10:36:10","date_gmt":"2026-05-11T10:36:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/422121\/"},"modified":"2026-05-11T10:36:10","modified_gmt":"2026-05-11T10:36:10","slug":"grace-hayden-hit-backs-at-style-critics-at-australian-fashion-week","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/422121\/","title":{"rendered":"Grace Hayden hit backs at style critics at Australian Fashion Week"},"content":{"rendered":"

Cricket royalty and sports presenter Grace Hayden<\/a> is using Australian Fashion Week to push back against the \u201cold-school\u201d tropes that suggest women can\u2019t be both glamorous and credible in the profession. <\/p>\n

The 23-year-old commentator, daughter of cricket legend Matthew Hayden, arrived at Sydney\u2019s Museum of Contemporary Art today as a guest of Shark Beauty, ready to silence critics who have long scrutinised her style.<\/p>\n

As the official presenting partner of AFW 2026, Shark Beauty<\/a> is creating the runway looks for major designers such as Carla Zampatti<\/a> and Alix Higgins, with Hayden leading the charge as the brand\u2019s high-profile guest.<\/p>\n

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. <\/p>\n

However, her rise in the male-dominated industry hasn\u2019t come without its fair share of commentary on her appearance. <\/p>\n

\"Grace<\/p>\n

Speaking exclusively to news.com.au, Hayden addressed the double standard that sees female reporters\u2019 outfit choices become headlines while their male counterparts go unnoticed.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think conversations around women in media and sport are constantly evolving, and with social media there\u2019s naturally a lot more commentary around public figures in general now,\u201d Hayden said.<\/p>\n

\u201cFor me personally, I try not to focus too much on outside noise.\u201d<\/p>\n

She explained that she never set out to intentionally \u201cchallenge\u201d the status quo, but rather wanted to bring her \u201cauthentic\u201d self to her broadcasting roles.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ve always believed you can be professional, prepared and respectful of the role while also embracing confidence and personal style,\u201d she told news.com.au.<\/p>\n

\u201cFashion has always been something I enjoy because it\u2019s a form of self-expression, and I think there\u2019s room for individuality in every industry.\u201d<\/p>\n

Despite being frequently labelled a \u201csex symbol\u201d in sports media circles, the presenter remains unfazed by the labels people try to pin on her.<\/p>\n

She said her priority is doing her job well, regardless of what she\u2019s wearing or how she looks. <\/p>\n

\u201cHonestly, I try not to focus too much on labels at all,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

\u201cMy priority has always been the work itself \u2013 being prepared, continuing to learn and showing up professionally in every role I take on.<\/p>\n

\u201cI feel incredibly grateful to work across sport, entertainment and fashion, and for me it\u2019s always about growing, challenging myself and enjoying the opportunities that come with the job.\u201d<\/p>\n

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. <\/p>\n

\u201cFor me, Fashion Week is about celebrating creativity, supporting Australian designers and embracing an industry I genuinely love being part of,\u201d she explained.<\/p>\n

\u201cWorking in television and sport, you naturally understand that people will always have opinions, but I\u2019ve learnt to stay focused on the positives.\u201d<\/p>\n

Today, that focus is on the Carla Zampatti show, a label Hayden says represents \u201ctimeless elegance and confidence\u201d.<\/p>\n

Her outfit choice for the iconic brand\u2019s runway is a nod to both the past and the present.<\/p>\n

\u201cMy look is vintage Carla, very classic and refined \u2013 it\u2019s a gold sequined skirt with a black fluffy jacket,\u201d she revealed. \u201cBut it still feels modern and effortless. <\/p>\n

\u201cI love pieces that feel feminine yet strong at the same time.\u201d<\/p>\n

Hayden\u2019s appearance at the event coincides with Shark Beauty\u2019s massive footprint at this year\u2019s festival, where Hair Director Madison Voloshin and Skin Director Isabella Schimid are leading the backstage direction for shows like Mariam Seddiq and Hansen & Gretel.<\/p>\n

For Hayden, the \u201cglam\u201d process is almost as much fun as the runways. <\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m so excited for the show and getting glammed up beforehand,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

\u201cGetting ready is honestly part of the fun \u2013 it\u2019s such a huge part of the energy backstage and really captures that runway-ready feeling everyone gets caught up in during Fashion Week.\u201d<\/p>\n

Her bold outfit is already turning heads at Circular Quay, but Hayden wants people to remember \u201cstyle is just one small part of who someone is\u201d. <\/p>\n