Hope Hicks is taking on a job at Fox — here's a look back at the incredible career of the 29-year-old former model

Áine Cain

Updated

2018-10-09T21:04:00Z

Hope Hicks was the youngest-ever White House communications director.
Next, she'll be taking on the role of chief communications officer at Fox, Business Insider reported.
She got her start promoting Ivanka Trump's fashion brand, before earning Donald Trump's trust and becoming a part of his inner circle.

Hope Hicks was the youngest person to ever hold the position of White House communications director.

After she resigned from the White House in February of 2018, it was initially unclear how she'd follow up her run as one of US President Donald Trump's top confidants.

On October 8, however, it was announced that Hicks will be joining the team at Fox as the chief communications officer. She'll run public relations for Fox News, Fox Sports, and Fox Business, Business Insider reported.

During her tenure in the White House, Hicks was embroiled in a number of controversies. She previously admitted to telling "white lies" on behalf of the president, during an eight-hour testimony to the House Intelligence Committee.

Hicks was also romantically linked to former White House staff secretary Rob Porter. When Porter's two ex-wives went on the record alleging that Porter had a history of domestic abuse, Hicks reportedly helped Chief of Staff John Kelly craft a statement defending him.

She was also interviewed by special counsel Robert Mueller's team regarding Russian interference in the US election.

Hicks had zero experience in politics before joining the Trump campaign in 2015. The New York Times reported the Greenwich, Connecticut native was "the third generation of her family to represent a powerful but highly controversial client." Her father ran PR for a tobacco company and the NFL, while her grandfather represented Texaco during the energy crisis in the 1970s.

"My father has been a huge influence on me, starting with introducing me to lacrosse, then a career in public relations and now politics," Hicks told Lacrosse Magazine.

Here's a look back at her career:

Growing up in Greenwich, Connecticut, Hicks swam, and played golf and lacrosse.

Source: New York Times, NPR

At Greenwich High School, she became captain of the varsity lacrosse team, which ultimately won a state championship.

Greenwich Connecticut — Greenwich, Connecticut. Chun Yip So/Wikimedia Commons

Source: New York Times, NPR

She also landed modeling jobs for television commercials, Ralph Lauren, and Vogue. Ford Modeling Agency represented Hicks and her sister Marcy Grace.

Source: New York Times, NPR

Hicks dreamt of becoming an actor. The New York Times reported she even "read lines for a film role with Alec Baldwin."

Source: New York Times, NPR

At the age of 13, Hicks told Greenwich Magazine she wanted to pursue acting, but could see herself in politics.

Kellyanne Conway, Hope Hicks, and Omarosa Manigault — Hope Hicks with fellow Trump administration figures Kellyanne Conway and Omarosa. Alex Wong/Getty Images

Source: New York Times, NPR

After graduating from Southern Methodist University, CNN reported Hicks landed a job at PR firm Hiltzik Strategies in 2012 after meeting founder Matthew Hiltzik at an NFL Super Bowl event.

Source: CNN, Marist, PR Week, New York Times

According to the New York Times, however, the interview with Hiltzik was set up after Hicks and her father met Alec Baldwin at the Super Bowl.

Source: CNN, Marist, PR Week, New York Times

Some of Hitzik's clients have included Baldwin, Justin Bieber, Katie Couric, Glenn Beck, and Manti Te'o.

Source: CNN, Marist, PR Week, New York Times

Hicks worked on the firm's Ivanka Trump account, and reportedly impressed her boss. "Hope is an independent thinker who uses proper discretion and is always looking to learn and improve," Hiltzik told PR Week.

Source: CNN, Marist, PR Week, New York Times

Ivanka Trump ultimately poached Hicks in 2014, hiring her to work on her namesake lifestyle brand.

Ivanka Trump. Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images

Source: GQ, New York Times

GQ reported the two became close, with Hicks even "dressing like the heiress."

Source: GQ, New York Times

Ivanka Trump later told The New York Times that Hicks also went on to earn her father's trust.

Source: GQ, New York Times

When Trump first called Hicks to his office, she reportedly didn't realize he was planning to run for president.

Hope Hicks Donald Trump — Hope Hicks with Donald Trump. Andrew Harnik/AP Images

Source: Business Insider, The Washington Post

Instead, she thought he was asking her to run a press campaign for one of his golf clubs.

Donald Trump Melania Trump — Donald Trump. Win McNamee/Getty Images

Source: Business Insider, The Washington Post

"No, my presidential campaign!" Trump said, according to the Washington Post. "I’m running for president."

donald trump trump tower — Donald Trump. Drew Angerer/Getty Images

Source: Business Insider, The Washington Post

During the campaign, New York Magazine's Gabriel Sherman reported Trump gave Hicks, along with Lewandowski, a free apartment in a Trump building.

Republican U.S. presidential candidate Donald Trump speaks with his campaign manager Corey Lewandowski (L) at his side as he talks about the results of the Florida, Ohio, North Carolina, Illinois and Missouri primary elections during a news conference held at his Mar-A-Lago Club, in Palm Beach, Florida, March 15, 2016. — Corey Lewandowski and Donald Trump. REUTERS/Joe Skipper

Source: New York Magazine, Business Insider, Business Insider

"Hicks spends most of her day sitting in Trump's office with her laptop, fielding press inquiries and taking dictation from him to tweet," he wrote.

Source: New York Magazine, Business Insider, Business Insider

But, according to a new tell-all book written by former aides David Bossie and Corey Lewandowski, US President Donald Trump reportedly wasn't always convinced that the 29-year-old was the right person for the job.

Source: "Let Trump Be Trump"

Lewandowski writes the now-president once told him that Hicks had "as much experience as a coffee cup." Lewandowski said he countered that she "was good looking." "That always helps," Trump reportedly responded.

Source: "Let Trump Be Trump"

In an interview for GQ, Trump told Olivia Nuzzi he was impressed by Hicks' ability to field so many press inquiries.

Source: GQ

"She gets a call a minute, probably," he said.

donald trump — Donald Trump. Associated Press/Pablo Martinez Monsivais

Source: GQ

He said he didn't see a benefit to her "outsider status" and lack of experience, but added, "She was very natural when it comes to picking it up, and a lot of people can't pick it up, because it's so fast-moving."

On the campaign trail, Hicks was also tasked with steaming Trump's suit and pants while he was wearing them. "She'd steam the jacket first and then sit in a chair in front of him and steam his pants," Lewandowski and Bossie wrote.

Donald Trump Hope Hicks Sarah Huckabee Sanders — Hope Hicks with Donald Trump. Andrew Harnik/AP Images

Source: Business Insider

Lewandowski said Hicks was "smart and private, with a nearly photographic memory."

Source: Business Insider

After Anthony Scaramucci was fired from his post as communications director in August 2017, Hicks was named interim director.

Source: CNBC, New York Times

"Hope is a terrific person and will do a great job. Wishing her the best," Scaramucci wrote in a tweet. Hicks was formally appointed communications director on September 12.

Source: CNBC, New York Times

Along with top Trump adviser Kellyanne Conway, Hicks brought in an annual salary of $179,700 — the maximum pay for any of Trump's aides.

Kellyanne Conway Hope Hicks — Hope Hicks and Kellyanne Conway. Mark Wilson / Getty Images

Source: The White House

New York Magazine reported Hicks' mother previously told her to write a book about her experience in the campaign, along the lines of "Primary Colors," a fictionalization about Bill Clinton's presidential campaign.

Bill Clinton Hillary Clinton — Bill and Hillary Clinton. REUTERS/Jim Bourg

Source: New York Magazine

"I told her, 'You don't even know,'" Hicks told New York Magazine.

Source: New York Magazine

Special counsel Robert Mueller reportedly interviewed Hicks as part of the ongoing investigation into alleged Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election, according to the Daily Mail.

Source: Business Insider, The Daily Mail, Business Insider

Business Insider reported she hired attorney Robert Trout to represent her in the investigation.

Source: Business Insider, The Daily Mail, Business Insider

She became a central figure in the controversy around Porter, with whom she was allegedly romantically linked.

Source: Business Insider, Business Insider, Business Insider, Business Insider, Business Insider

In an interview with Marie Claire, Hicks stressed her belief in hard work and passion, which she said she learned from her father, Donald Trump, and Ivanka Trump.

donald trump ivanka trump — Donald and Ivanka Trump. Associated Press/Keith Srakocic

Source: Marie Claire

"If you work hard and you work for somebody who empowers you and challenges you, you'll be successful."

Source: Marie Claire

Hicks had reportedly been considering leaving the White House for months before she stepped away in February of 2018, according to The New York Times.

Source: Business Insider, The New York Times

In response to her departure, Trump released a statement saying, "I will miss having her by my side, but when she approached me about pursuing other opportunities, I totally understood. I am sure we will work together again in the future."

Source: Business Insider, The New York Times

Hicks was just named as the executive vice president and chief communications officer of the so-called "New Fox." She'll run public relations for "New Fox" — the cluster of Fox brands that aren't included in the company's sale to Disney, Business Insider reported.

Source: Business Insider

Donald Trump Arts & Culture Fox news

Hope Hicks is taking on a job at Fox — here's a look back at the incredible career of the 29-year-old former model

Growing up in Greenwich, Connecticut, Hicks swam, and played golf and lacrosse.

At Greenwich High School, she became captain of the varsity lacrosse team, which ultimately won a state championship.

She also landed modeling jobs for television commercials, Ralph Lauren, and Vogue. Ford Modeling Agency represented Hicks and her sister Marcy Grace.

Hicks dreamt of becoming an actor. The New York Times reported she even "read lines for a film role with Alec Baldwin."

At the age of 13, Hicks told Greenwich Magazine she wanted to pursue acting, but could see herself in politics.

After graduating from Southern Methodist University, CNN reported Hicks landed a job at PR firm Hiltzik Strategies in 2012 after meeting founder Matthew Hiltzik at an NFL Super Bowl event.

According to the New York Times, however, the interview with Hiltzik was set up after Hicks and her father met Alec Baldwin at the Super Bowl.

Some of Hitzik's clients have included Baldwin, Justin Bieber, Katie Couric, Glenn Beck, and Manti Te'o.

Hicks worked on the firm's Ivanka Trump account, and reportedly impressed her boss. "Hope is an independent thinker who uses proper discretion and is always looking to learn and improve," Hiltzik told PR Week.

Ivanka Trump ultimately poached Hicks in 2014, hiring her to work on her namesake lifestyle brand.

GQ reported the two became close, with Hicks even "dressing like the heiress."

Ivanka Trump later told The New York Times that Hicks also went on to earn her father's trust.

When Trump first called Hicks to his office, she reportedly didn't realize he was planning to run for president.

Instead, she thought he was asking her to run a press campaign for one of his golf clubs.

"No, my presidential campaign!" Trump said, according to the Washington Post. "I’m running for president."

During the campaign, New York Magazine's Gabriel Sherman reported Trump gave Hicks, along with Lewandowski, a free apartment in a Trump building.

"Hicks spends most of her day sitting in Trump's office with her laptop, fielding press inquiries and taking dictation from him to tweet," he wrote.

But, according to a new tell-all book written by former aides David Bossie and Corey Lewandowski, US President Donald Trump reportedly wasn't always convinced that the 29-year-old was the right person for the job.

Lewandowski writes the now-president once told him that Hicks had "as much experience as a coffee cup." Lewandowski said he countered that she "was good looking." "That always helps," Trump reportedly responded.

In an interview for GQ, Trump told Olivia Nuzzi he was impressed by Hicks' ability to field so many press inquiries.

"She gets a call a minute, probably," he said.

He said he didn't see a benefit to her "outsider status" and lack of experience, but added, "She was very natural when it comes to picking it up, and a lot of people can't pick it up, because it's so fast-moving."

On the campaign trail, Hicks was also tasked with steaming Trump's suit and pants while he was wearing them. "She'd steam the jacket first and then sit in a chair in front of him and steam his pants," Lewandowski and Bossie wrote.

Lewandowski said Hicks was "smart and private, with a nearly photographic memory."

After Anthony Scaramucci was fired from his post as communications director in August 2017, Hicks was named interim director.

"Hope is a terrific person and will do a great job. Wishing her the best," Scaramucci wrote in a tweet. Hicks was formally appointed communications director on September 12.

Along with top Trump adviser Kellyanne Conway, Hicks brought in an annual salary of $179,700 — the maximum pay for any of Trump's aides.

New York Magazine reported Hicks' mother previously told her to write a book about her experience in the campaign, along the lines of "Primary Colors," a fictionalization about Bill Clinton's presidential campaign.

"I told her, 'You don't even know,'" Hicks told New York Magazine.

Special counsel Robert Mueller reportedly interviewed Hicks as part of the ongoing investigation into alleged Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election, according to the Daily Mail.

Business Insider reported she hired attorney Robert Trout to represent her in the investigation.

She became a central figure in the controversy around Porter, with whom she was allegedly romantically linked.

In an interview with Marie Claire, Hicks stressed her belief in hard work and passion, which she said she learned from her father, Donald Trump, and Ivanka Trump.

"If you work hard and you work for somebody who empowers you and challenges you, you'll be successful."

Hicks had reportedly been considering leaving the White House for months before she stepped away in February of 2018, according to The New York Times.

In response to her departure, Trump released a statement saying, "I will miss having her by my side, but when she approached me about pursuing other opportunities, I totally understood. I am sure we will work together again in the future."

Hicks was just named as the executive vice president and chief communications officer of the so-called "New Fox." She'll run public relations for "New Fox" — the cluster of Fox brands that aren't included in the company's sale to Disney, Business Insider reported.

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