NZ Herald - 28 April 2007 "tough chick..."

[Stuart H]

Thanks Stephany

It's a really honest and interesting interview and I could imagine Hayley saying every word.

I hope she's having a good time at home.

stuart

[Richard]

martin said:

The one revelation for me was to learn that Hayley has never had any media training. She is such a natural. But as Hayley always portrays herself as the genuine person she is then it's easy.

Hello Martin and everybody!

I found that a very interesting part of the interview too. I'm sure Hayley doesn't need any media training, because she's learnt everything she needs to know by reading about other artists in the media. She's well aware of the pitfalls, and she could definitely teach other celebrities a thing or four!

Best Wishes,

Richard

[stevemacdonald]

The "tough chick" quote is misleading as a headline since it was obviously a joking throwaway line at the end. I usually think of tough chicks as chain-smokin', tattoo-covered bad girls with rotten attitudes and questionable motives, most of whom work at the corner Starbucks. I really can't picture Hayley taking my order for a grande decaf cappuccino, can you?

[Eric]

Beautiful article! (I usually avoid reading articles for at least a little while, in part, I guess, out of fear of finding some comment taken out of context and twisted into some crazy story to attract the readers' interests...all the while, you --the reader--, knows perfectly well what the comment was supposed to say, and there's very little you can do about it to change the type of publicity that has been generated).

I'm finding out that this is a pointless fear with Hayley! (and without any media training!)

Having said that, thank you Stephany for posting this (many posts ago).

I thought the report was beautifully done... It is indeed a very moving article. My heart goes out to not only Hayley but especially her family. It often seems to be those that are left behind who have the hardest time dealing and coping. Thanks again, Stephany....this is now added to one of my favorites.

Eric

[Stephany]

ericd03 said:

It is indeed a very moving article. My heart goes out to not only Hayley but especially her family.
Eric

Hi Eric,
I completely agree with you. It's a very moving article.
Hayley may be "tough", yet Thomas giving her family pictures for her birthday made her cry so that also proves she remains a girl (I should say "woman" !) who misses her loved ones.

[postscript]

martin said:

Congratulations to both Stephany and the reporter for this candid interview. In fact the interviewing style and content were very similar to Hayley herself - honest, interesting and inspiring.

The one revelation for me was to learn that Hayley has never had any media training. She is such a natural. But as Hayley always portrays herself as the genuine person she is then it's easy.

Martin

Interesting point that, Martin. If I recall correctly, in The World at her Feet it was said that Decca always insisted on media training before anything happened but she was the exception to their rule because they 'dare not' interfere with her natural responsiveness. The question I therefore ask, is why raise the issue now? Interestingly, the phrasing of the report was something like, 'thought they should OFFER her the option as part of their support to her.

Could this mean they don't think they support her as they should because she's so good at 'doing her own thing?

Peter S.

[postscript]

stevemacdonald said:

The "tough chick" quote is misleading as a headline since it was obviously a joking throwaway line at the end. I usually think of tough chicks as chain-smokin', tattoo-covered bad girls with rotten attitudes and questionable motives, most of whom work at the corner Starbucks. I really can't picture Hayley taking my order for a grande decaf cappuccino, can you?

Here we go again, an Urban Dictionary defnition? I don't disagree with your description, but it raises the question as to whether the bottle is half empty or half full!

I saw the quote in the half-full sense. She's sweet, lovely, the sort of girl you'd love to meet and to know and therefore 'gives the impression' she needs someone to stand up for her in a hard world of graft. This 'chick' doesn't need anyone standing up for her, She can handle her own fights without the need for reserves round the corner.

In this context 'tough chick' to me, is a delicate, decorous young woman quite capable of standing up for herself by a quiet insistance that wears down any opposition to the point of exhaustion. In that context, i like the phrase and I think it is apt.

Peter S.

[thomas]

What a great find Stephany! I've first seen this article as a link on Dori's blog but realized then that you've already posted it here before. i.postimg.cc/9fYxy370/smilie-big-grin.gif i.postimg.cc/9fYxy370/smilie-big-grin.gif

In the interview I like especially the part with Jill. Hayley really enjoys every minute with her family ... but of course she does. She was home for a few days after being far way for months and she promoted her album and had very little privtate time.
She really is a "tough chick"!

Thomas

[Belinda]

Hi Everyone,
The Same article appeared in our Christchurch Star Yesterday May 2nd.
with the third picture of the photo's taken at the Hilton.

Ours is titled

'Little,lovely' Hayley is all grown up
under the picture it says
In Control Hayley Westenra angelic looks hide a determined mind.

and at the end it says

Oh yeah i'm a tough chick, she's joking but it's true.
To the side of the story it says

I'm just glad that people are aware i'm growing up... as opposed to Oh,stay little,stay cute'
Belinda

Ps

This is not the article i was looking out for as Hayley had an interview with the Star newspaper and the Press the morning of the 23rd.
So why would they interview her if they were just going to use this article.

[jons]

She used to be something called a Pesca- vegetarian and that is her natural inclination. She doesn't like the idea of eating ``cute, fluffy animals''.

She does eat small amounts of meat now because she is obsessive about getting her proper nutrients and on the road she can't cook up her vege meals. And this is someone who made PETA's (People for the Ethical treatment of Animals) sexiest vegetarians list. ``I'm completely bursting the bubble now, aren't I? That's that ruined. Ha.'' She is nothing if not a pragmatist.

When I first heard that Hayley had started eating meat, it upset me. I was thinking "She doesn't like the idea of eating animals but all of a sudden because she needs her proteins so that idea just flies out the window." But I then made myself believe she was a veggie just for the health benefits.

Now in her own words, she didn't like the thought of eating "cute, fluffy animals''. So is everything else just for show? I'm not a veggie, I eat some meat, its not the fact that she eats some meat that upsets me, maybe its the fact that she says one thing and means another.

I'm sorry if this offends anyone but I find it difficult to trust people who say one thing and mean another, so learning that has taken the hope away.

[Eric]

jons said:

I'm sorry if this offends anyone but I find it difficult to trust people who say one thing and mean another, so learning that has taken the hope away.

Hi Jon,

I can certainly understand the discouragement, and I agree with you on that statement; however, I don't believe Hayley has done such a thing. I don't know why Hayley ever chose to not eat meat...perhaps she stated somewhere?

Regardless, I wouldn't consider her eating meat a complete loss of conviction on the matter (if she started her diet out of this personal conviction--and that alone may be a big assumption). (She may one day even change her mind regarding the eating of meat). It does not imply that she is simply putting on a show.

I think both of us know that Hayley would not put up with such a thing from anyone else and certainly not from herself. She holds high standards for herself, Jon. I wouldn't worry too much about that comment. She's still the same Hayley she's always been.

Cheers,
Eric

[jons]

Hi Eric, thank you, I was expecting people just to ignore that. I'm don't expect people to understand me, but thats the way I'm made and these things worry me. I'm not going to win any popularity awards.

[Eric]

Hi Jon, or should I say "Eric."

It sounds very similar to the way I handle things...usually anyway. Placing one's trust in another human often leads to disappointment, simply because of the human nature attached. So, I try to be careful not to place too much confidence in anyone. In fact, I tend to do just the opposite...remain critical of everything I see and hear.

Many people have responded to Hayley in a similar manner as I first did -- cautiously. I don't want to place more trust in this beloved girl than I should, but I do believe it is safe to accept the fact that Hayley is led by her heart at this time in her life....very little else. What she does, she takes the time to think about, and I do believe that she holds herself to it. In my opinion, she is most likely her worst critic. (Just like you and I, Jon and many others on this forum --in one way or another). IMHO, she would simply not say one thing and do another, because she would disappoint herself, first and foremost.

But, no worries, Jon ... I understand!! I think Hayley would appreciate us looking after her like we do.

All the best,
Eric

[Ed]

Who cares whether or not Hayley eats meat? I'm not a vegetarian but I don't judge vegetarians to be weird. They are merely exercising a personal choice. If they chose to eat an occasional piece of meat for whatever reason it again is their choice. It's none of my business.

I want to add my thanks to Stephany for providing the wonderful interview. It reinforces my vision of what Hayley is like. It only makes me admire her all the more. I wish I'd had the confidence in myself she exhibits during the course of the interview when I was her age (back during the Kennedy administration).

Ed

[milewalker]

ed said:

Who cares whether or not Hayley eats meat? I'm not a vegetarian but I don't judge vegetarians to be weird. They are merely exercising a personal choice. If they chose to eat an occasional piece of meat for whatever reason it again is their choice. It's none of my business.

I wish I'd had the confidence in myself she exhibits during the course of the interview when I was her age (back during the Kennedy administration).

Ed

My understanding is that most pescatarians, (they can eat fish and seafood) are merely being health concious - however she cant do what she cant do. If health is the issue and she cant make a proper meal, the poor girl does still have to eat....starving is not an option.

I am not a vegetarian either - this being said there are two classes of meat that I do indeed refuse to eat. I will not eat something that I suspect might survive if I left it alone. I also will not eat anything that I might be tempted to give a name to.

I think that Jon S might be reading more into her comment about "Cute and fluffy animals" than she intended. Words like "cute" are subjective. Personally I find rabbits cute I guess, but then again I have never eaten a rabbit. It would however, never occur to me that a cow was particularly "cute". I dont think chickens are cute - and they have feathers, so I dont know if the are "fluffy" or not. I do think lobsters are kinda cute though, and I did have one as a pet when I was a kid (his name was Herman) so I suppose I should find her vulgar pescatarian ways quite disgusting.....

There are a lot of things that I dont like. I dont like going to work every day. I dont like some of the people I work with. I dont like the fact that my body requires six or seven hours of sleep every 24 hours. I dont like some of the music my wife listens to.
Despite this, I have to work to make a living, which means I also must try to get along with people I dislike. My performance drops if I dont get enough sleep (and I feel bad), and I cant help listening to whatever my wife is playing (unless sometimes I am engrossed in something else and can ignore it). Despite the fact I dont like any of these things I still do them. It is called reality. The world is what it is - not what we want it to be.

Jon - the other