<br> {{short description|Irish author and filmmaker (born 1985)}} {{puffery|date=July 2020}} {{Use dmy dates|date=February 2022}} {{Use Hiberno-English|date=February 2022}} {{infobox youtuber | name = Hazel Hayes | image = | image_size = | birth_name = | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1985|01|21|df=y}} | birth_place = Donaghmede, Dublin, Ireland | education = Dublin City University {{small|(BA)}} | occupation = {{Hlist|Author|filmmaker|host|actress|YouTuber}} | youtube_handle = TheHazelHayes | youtube_display_name = Hazel Hayes
| youtube_years_active = 2011–present | youtube_genre = Lifestyle | youtube_subscribers = 226 thousand<!-- PLEASE DO NOT CHANGE WITHOUT UPDATING stats_update BELOW --> | youtube_views = 20.8 million<!-- PLEASE DO NOT CHANGE WITHOUT UPDATING stats_update BELOW --> | stats_update = 2 April 2026 }}
'''Hazel Hayes''' (born 21 January 1985), formerly known online as '''ChewingSand''', is an Irish author, filmmaker, host, actress, and YouTuber based in the United Kingdom. She is best known for writing, directing, and starring in her short films and series to her self-titled YouTube channel, as well as creating and hosting the web series, ''Tipsy Talk''. Her debut novel, ''Out Of Love'', was published in 2020.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Reading and writing my way out of heartbreak |url=https://www.irishtimes.com/culture/books/reading-and-writing-my-way-out-of-heartbreak-1.4375924 |access-date=2022-09-19 |newspaper=The Irish Times |language=en}}</ref>
==Early life and education== Hayes was born and raised in Donaghmede, a suburb of north Dublin. She has an older sister and two older brothers. She graduated from Dublin City University in 2007, where she served as deputy president of the Student Union, with a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism. She then took classes at the Irish Writers' Centre.<ref>{{Cite journal|url=https://www.independent.ie/entertainment/books/book-reviews/out-of-love-a-story-of-a-break-up-told-in-reverse-39261176.html|title=Out of Love: a story of a break-up - told in reverse|journal=Independent.ie|first=Meadhbh|last=McGrath|date=6 June 2020|accessdate=22 July 2020}}</ref>
==Career== Hayes began her career working for Google and then YouTube as a manager before becoming a YouTuber herself.<ref>{{citation|url=https://www.irishtimes.com/life-and-style/people/hazel-hayes-one-woman-one-camera-nine-million-views-1.2489981|title=Hazel Hayes: One woman, one camera, nine million views|newspaper=The Irish Times|first=Aoife|last=Valentine|date=15 January 2016|accessdate=23 June 2019}}</ref>
Hayes began her interview series, ''Tipsy Talk'' in 2013 in which she interviews popular creators and later celebrities whilst intaking alcohol. She is also known for her short films and web series. Her 2014 short film, ''Dementia,'' was nominated for and won a work shop competition with Guillermo del Toro. Later, in 2017, she directed Fullscreen series ''Prank Me'' starring Corey Fogelmanis. The series earned her an Excellence in Storytelling award at the 2017 Buffer Festival.<ref>{{citation|url=https://screen-queens.com/2018/09/13/directedbywomen-review-prank-me-when-youtube-turns-dark-web-hazel-hayes-non-existent-series-prank-me-is-a-psychological-thriller-to-behold/|title=#DirectedByWomen REVIEW- Prank Me: When YouTube turns Dark-Web, Hazel Hayes' non-existent series Prank Me is a psychological thriller to behold|journal=Screen Queens|first=Alex|last=Dewing|date=13 September 2018|accessdate=23 June 2019}}</ref> Other works includes her vlogs ''Time of the Month'', web series ''Unnecessary Otter'', pilot ''Hot Mess'', and short films ''Super Brainy Zombies'' and ''Septem''.<ref>{{citation|url=https://www.dailydot.com/upstream/hazel-hayes-wcw/|title=Hazel Hayes is the YouTube filmmaker you need to know|journal=The Daily Dot|first=Carly|last=Lanning|date=23 March 2015|accessdate=23 June 2019}}</ref>
She has since directed dodie's music video for her song "Human" in 2018 <ref>{{Citation|last=performer.|first=Dodie (Musician), composer|title=Human|url=http://worldcat.org/oclc/1083221430|oclc=1083221430|access-date=2021-11-19}}</ref> and later 'I Kissed Someone (It Wasn't You)' <ref name="auto">{{Citation|last=performer.|first=Dodie, composer|title=Build a problem|url=http://worldcat.org/oclc/1250265175|oclc=1250265175|access-date=2021-11-19}}</ref> and Anna Akana's 2019 "Disappointment" music video.<ref>{{citation|url=https://www.mtv.co.uk/news/vsfv0e/behind-the-scenes-linda-blacker-dodie-hazel|title=exclusive behind the scenes pics from hazel hayes and dodie clark's snow white shoot with linda blacker|journal=MTV News|first=Linds|last=Foley|date=14 February 2016|access-date=23 June 2019}}</ref><ref>{{citation|url=https://teneightymagazine.com/2018/12/19/hazel-hayes-to-direct-a-music-video-for-anna-akana/|title=Hazel Hayes to direct a music video for Anna Akana|journal=TenEighty|first=Bob|last=Leak|date=19 December 2018|accessdate=22 July 2020}}</ref>
In November 2018, Hayes announced her debut novel, ''Out of Love'', a romance novel she would publish through Unbound.<ref>{{citation|url=https://metro.co.uk/2018/11/28/hazel-hayes-can-think-of-nothing-more-horrific-than-love-as-she-announces-debut-novel-out-of-love-8186733/|title=Hazel Hayes 'can think of nothing more horrific than love' as she announces debut novel Out Of Love|journal=Metro|first=Louise|last=Griffin|date=28 November 2018|accessdate=23 June 2019}}</ref> It was announced on its release date in June 2020 that Rabbit Track Pictures had picked up the rights to the novel, with Hayes writing and Kitty Kaletsky overseeing the film adaption.<ref>{{citation|url=https://deadline.com/2020/06/james-norton-rabbit-track-pictures-options-debut-novel-out-of-love-for-tv-1202956412/|title=James Norton's Rabbit Track Pictures Options Hazel Hayes Debut Novel 'Out Of Love' For TV|journal=Deadline|first=Andreas|last=Wiseman|date=11 June 2020|accessdate=22 July 2020}}</ref>
Hayes began hosting Prime Video Club alongside Munya Chawawa for Amazon Prime Video in April 2020, a series discussing various series and films on the platform.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/PrimeVideoUK/posts/10158348893087422?comment_id=10158354745222422&reply_comment_id=10158354907687422|title=Join Hazel Hayes and Munya Chawawa for a brand new YouTube series, Prime Video Club|author=Amazon Prime Video|via=Facebook|date=9 April 2020|accessdate=22 July 2020}}</ref>
Her second novel ''Better by Far'' was published in 2024.<ref>{{cite web | title=Q&A: Hazel Hayes, Author of 'Better by Far' | date=20 April 2024 | url=https://thenerddaily.com/hazel-hayes-better-by-far-interview/ }}</ref>
==Personal life== Hayes moved to London in 2012. She lived with musician Dodie Clark<ref name="auto"/> for many years.
Hayes came out as bisexual in 2016.<ref>{{Cite tweet | user=TheHazelHayes | number=779328536800858112 | title=I don't hate bisexuals. I am bisexual. I like bisexuality...}}</ref> In 2025, she was diagnosed with autism and ADHD.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Instagram |url=https://www.instagram.com/p/DO_4ewBDbhf/ |access-date=2025-09-25 |website=www.instagram.com}}</ref>
==Bibliography== *''Out of Love'' (2020) *''Better By Far'' (2024)
==Filmography== ===Series=== *''Unnecessary Otter'' (2014) *''PrankMe'' (2017)
===Short films=== *''Super Brainy Zombies'' (2014) *''Dementia'' (2014) *''Septem'' (2015) *''Sexy Torture Chamber'' (2015) *''Not the John Lewis Christmas Advert'' (2015) *''Happy'' (2016) *''Hot Mess'' (2016) *''Anxious'' (2018)
===Music videos=== *"Human" (2018) - Dodie Clark *"Disappointment" (2019) - Anna Akana *"I Kissed Someone (It Wasn't You)" (2021) - Dodie Clark
==Awards and nominations== Won Guillermo del Toro competition for ''Dementia''.
{| class="wikitable" |- ! Year ! Association ! Category ! Nominated work ! Result ! Ref. |- |2012 |Shorty Awards |Ireland |Hazel Hayes |{{nom}} |<ref>{{cite web|url=https://5th.shortyawards.com/TheHazelHayes|title=Hazel Hayes was nominated for a Shorty Award!|website=5th Shorty Awards|accessdate=26 June 2019}}</ref> |- |2016 |Summer in the City Awards |YouTuber Series of the Year |''Time of the Month'' |{{nom}} | |- |2016 |Summer in the City Awards |Short film of the Year |''Septem'' |{{nom}} | |- |2017 |Summer in the City Awards |Film of the Year |''Hot Mess'' |{{nom}} | |- |2017 |Buffer Festival |Excellence in Storytelling | rowspan="3" | ''PrankMe'' |{{won}} | |- |2018 |Streamy Awards |Directing |{{nom}} | |- |2018 |Summer in the City Awards |Creator Series of the Year |{{won}} | |- |}
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== * {{IMDb name|6303080}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Hayes, Hazel}} Category:1985 births Category:Living people Category:Alumni of Dublin City University Category:Bisexual novelists Category:Bisexual women entertainers Category:Bisexual women writers Category:Irish autistic people Category:Irish expatriates in England Category:Irish bisexual women Category:Irish bisexual writers Category:Irish bisexual entertainers Category:Irish LGBTQ film directors Category:Irish LGBTQ novelists Category:Irish women novelists Category:Irish women film directors Category:Irish YouTubers Category:LGBTQ YouTubers Category:People from Donaghmede Category:People with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder Category:21st-century Irish women writers Category:21st-century Irish novelists Category:21st-century Irish LGBTQ people