Dayle Haddon, Pioneering Model Who Challenged Ageism, Dies at 76

Authorities discovered Haddon's body in a second-floor bedroom and were alerted to the situation after an emergency call reported a person unconscious at the Solebury Township residence.

Model Dayle Haddon, who was known for challenging ageism in the industry, has died in Pennsylvania at the age of 76 from suspected carbon monoxide poisoning.

Authorities found Haddon’s body in a second-floor bedroom after an emergency call reported an unconscious person at the Solebury Township residence. They also found a 76-year-old man, Walter J. Blucas, who was transported to the hospital in critical condition.

An investigation found a faulty flue and exhaust pipe in the heating system caused the carbon monoxide leak, which also led to the hospitalization of two medics and on-site treatment for a police officer.

Haddon's career began in her native Canada, where she took up modeling to pay for her ballet classes with the Canadian ballet company Les Grands Ballets Canadiens.

Her big break came in the 1970s and 1980s, when she appeared on the covers of Vogue and Cosmopolitan and was featured in the 1973 Sports Illustrated swimsuit issue. She also appeared in nearly two dozen films until the 1990s.

After her husband's death in 1991, Haddon went back to work but faced industry biases due to her age. Despite initial rejections, she went on to secure contracts with major beauty brands such as Clairol, Estée Lauder, and L’Oreal, promoting products for aging women.

In 2008, she founded WomenOne, which focuses on education for women and girls in marginalized communities worldwide.

Haddon's daughter, Ryan, described her mother as "an inspiration to many," leaving behind a legacy of advocacy and empowerment, proving age to be not a barrier but an opportunity for reinvention and influence.