You probably recognize the hair first. That neon, sunset-orange mane is hard to miss. When Hayley De Sola Pinto stepped onto the St. David for Season 10 of Below Deck, most Bravo fans expected another reality TV trope: the loud, colorful personality who crashes and burns under the weight of three-day charters and demanding guests.
But then something weird happened. She didn't crash. In a season defined by the firing of Camille Lamb and the chaotic energy of the interior crew, Hayley stayed... remarkably sane. Honestly, she was the glue that kept Chief Stew Fraser Olender from having a total meltdown. It’s rare to see someone on reality TV who is both the loudest person in the room and the most reliable.
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Who Is Hayley De Sola Pinto? (The Real Story)
Hayley isn't just a "stew" who got lucky with a casting director. She’s from Helston, a small town in Cornwall, England. Before she ever stepped foot on a superyacht for the cameras, she was already a self-made entrepreneur. While most reality stars are looking for a way out of their day jobs, Hayley was actually looking for a way to expand hers.
She runs a business called Classen Aesthetics. She’s an advanced aesthetics practitioner, which is a fancy way of saying she knows her way around a needle. We’re talking lip fillers, anti-wrinkle treatments, and facial contouring. She’s been doing this since 2020.
Most people don't realize she started yachting way back when she was 23. She’d go off to sea for a bit, make some money, travel the world, and then come back to her business. It’s a smart hustle. It gave her the "thick skin" you need to deal with a billionaire complaining that their espresso martini is two degrees too warm.
The New York Catwalk Moment
If you dig back into 2019, you'll find photos of Hayley that look nothing like a yachtie. She actually walked the runway during Couture Fashion Week in New York. She’s got the height and the look, but more importantly, she’s got the confidence. Walking a Manhattan catwalk is probably less stressful than serving dinner to Captain Lee Rosbach when he's in a bad mood.
What Really Happened on Below Deck Season 10
Season 10 was a mess. Let’s be real. Captain Lee had to leave for medical reasons, Captain Sandy Yawn came in and started changing everything, and the interior crew was basically a war zone.
Hayley De Sola Pinto did something brilliant: she stayed out of the line of fire. She lived in a cabin with Alissa Humber—who was at the center of most of the drama—and somehow managed to remain friends with everyone. That’s a skill. You've got to be a bit of a diplomat to survive that environment without getting a "plane ticket home."
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Her friendship with Fraser Olender was the highlight of the season. They had this witty, dry British banter that felt authentic. It wasn't "produced" for the cameras; they just genuinely seemed to like each other.
- The Work Ethic: Unlike some of her coworkers, Hayley actually worked. She was a "stew's stew."
- The Personality: She called herself "over-the-top," but she was never toxic.
- The Result: She left the season as one of the most liked cast members in years.
Life After the Yacht: The Playboy Partnership
In late 2023, Hayley dropped a bit of a bombshell. She announced she was joining the Playboy community as a "Centerfold" creator. Now, before you jump to conclusions, it's not the old-school magazine from your grandfather's basement. Playboy shifted to a digital platform that’s a lot like OnlyFans but a bit more "curated."
It’s a controversial move for some, but for Hayley, it’s clearly a business decision. She’s leveraging the fame she got from Bravo to build a financial cushion. She’s still running Classen Aesthetics in Cornwall, but now she’s got a global platform.
She’s also been spotted hanging out with other Below Deck legends like Chef Tzarina Mace-Ralph and Ashling Lorger. She’s deeply embedded in the "yachtie" alumni circle. People like her. That’s her secret sauce.
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Why We Won’t See Her in Season 11 (And Beyond)
Fans were gutted when she didn't return for Season 11. It makes sense, though. Yachting is a young person's game, and Hayley has a successful business to run back in the UK. Plus, let's be honest, once you've been a fan favorite, the only way to go is down if you stay too long.
She’s currently focusing on:
- Her Clinic: Growing Classen Aesthetics in Helston.
- Modeling: She still does professional shoots, often highlighting her Cornwall roots.
- Digital Content: Building her personal brand on Instagram and Playboy.
Honestly, Hayley is a blueprint for how to do reality TV right. You come in, you work hard, you stay funny, you avoid the "villain edit," and you leave before you become a caricature of yourself.
Actionable Takeaway for Fans
If you're ever in Cornwall and looking for some "Russian Lips" or just want to see if that personality is the same in real life (spoiler: it is), you can actually book an appointment with her. She isn't some untouchable celebrity; she's still a working practitioner. Just don't expect her to serve you a drink in a white skort. Those days are probably over.
Keep an eye on her socials. She isn't done with the spotlight, she's just changing the stage.