What set her apart even then was the attention to detail. She frequently wore small lockets or bracelets that paid homage to her Afro-Latina heritage, and she was often photographed with her mother, whose own classic style clearly influenced Laya’s early understanding of grooming and grace. In these photos, Hayes smiles wide, but her posture is straight, her hand placement deliberate. Even at ten years old, she understood the camera.
Another hallmark of this era is her fearless use of texture. She layers mesh under tweed, latex over silk, and denim with chiffon. At a screening for The Equalizer season 4, she appeared in a Thom Browne-inspired ensemble: a grey flannel suit jacket worn over a lace bodysuit, paired with patent leather combat boots. The androgyny was intentional. "I don't like being boxed in by gender expectations in fashion," she told Essence . "Some days I want to feel like a warrior. Some days I want to feel like a queen. My closet has room for both."
What comes next for Laya DeLeon Hayes’ fashion legacy? If her trajectory continues, expect to see her at the Met Gala within three years, likely in a look that deconstructs the theme through a diasporic lens. Expect a potential collaboration with a sustainable fashion brand, given her public disdain for fast fashion. And expect her to continue mentoring younger actresses of color on navigating the industry’s often punishing beauty standards.
The year 2020—despite the global pause—became a pivotal moment for Hayes’ digital style. With red carpets cancelled, she turned to Instagram and Zoom premieres as her new gallery walls. She mastered the art of the "high-low" look: a vintage band tee paired with a silk midi skirt, or a cashmere hoodie worn over a beaded evening skirt. It was during this time that she also began publicly celebrating Black designers. She posted a now-iconic grid of photos wearing a hand-dyed indigo wrap dress by a Brooklyn-based artisan, captioning it, "Supporting the culture, one stitch at a time." Laya Deleon Hayes Nude
This era also marked her first major magazine spread—a Teen Vogue digital feature where she styled three looks under $200. The shoot highlighted her thrifting philosophy. "Vintage has a soul," she said in the interview. "When I wear a 1970s leather jacket, I feel like I'm carrying someone else's story with me. That’s better than any runway label."
Her style gallery is still being painted. New canvases arrive with each premiere, each magazine cover, each candid moment. But the brushstrokes are already confident. Laya DeLeon Hayes is not following trends; she is archiving her own growth. And in a world where young women are often dressed by committees and publicists, her ability to remain the sole author of her image is the most stylish statement of all.
The current chapter of Laya DeLeon Hayes’ style gallery is the most arresting. With her critically acclaimed turn as Delilah (a young vigilante-in-training) in CBS’s The Equalizer opposite Queen Latifah, Hayes has entered the A-list conversation. Her fashion has risen to meet the moment. What set her apart even then was the attention to detail
This is the "cocoon stage" of her style evolution. Designers like Staud, Ganni, and Sergio Hudson began appearing in her rotation. At the 2019 premiere of The Lie at the Toronto International Film Festival, Hayes arrived in a tailored, burnt-orange blazer dress with exaggerated shoulders and matching stiletto boots. The look was a statement: I am no longer a child actor. Her hair, worn in a dramatic side-part with sleek, defined curls, framed a face that had traded baby softness for high cheekbones and a knowing gaze.
In the modern entertainment landscape, the red carpet has become a secondary stage—a visual narrative that runs parallel to an actor’s filmography. For young star Laya DeLeon Hayes, this narrative is one of quiet sophistication, daring versatility, and a refreshing embrace of heritage. While audiences know her as the voice of the righteous Doc McStuffins, the fierce Echo in The Owl House , or the complex lead in The Equalizer reboot, a stroll through her style gallery reveals a young artist who understands that fashion is not just clothing; it is armor, language, and autobiography.
Every style gallery must begin with its foundation. For Hayes, that foundation was built in the primary colors and whimsical textures of the Disney era. As the voice of the beloved title character in Doc McStuffins , Hayes attended red carpets in a wardrobe that mirrored her on-screen persona: approachable, joyful, and meticulously polished. Even at ten years old, she understood the camera
From child star premieres to high-profile Hollywood galas, Hayes’ style evolution charts the journey from playful innocence to commanding presence. This is the story of that gallery—a curated look at the fabrics, silhouettes, and statements that define Laya DeLeon Hayes.
This editorial eye is evident in her social media. Her Instagram grid is curated like a minimalist art gallery—clean white spaces, high contrast, and a focus on silhouette. She rarely posts mirror selfies; instead, she commissions photographer friends to capture her in natural light, often against brutalist architecture or in golden hour fields. The clothes are never the subject; they are the medium through which she expresses mood.
Her street style has also become a source of inspiration. Paparazzi shots from Los Angeles show her in relaxed but deliberate ensembles: wide-leg leather trousers, a cropped cashmere sweater, and pristine white Air Force 1s; or a vintage Chanel tweed jacket thrown over a hoodie and cargo pants. She has a particular love for corset tops worn loose (untied or worn open over a t-shirt), a trend she has single-handedly popularized among her Gen Z following.
Now, the gallery is filled with architectural silhouettes, androgynous tailoring, and what stylists call "quiet luxury with an edge." At the 2023 NAACP Image Awards, Hayes wore a custom Christian Siriano gown: a column of emerald green velvet with a dramatic cape sleeve and a thigh-high slit. The look was a masterclass in proportion—modest from the front, explosive from the side. She paired it with diamond drop earrings by a Black-owned jewelry house and a sleek, middle-parted low bun. The image went viral not for its flash, but for its power .