Starring / Haiden Henderson
Featuring / Toni Smith + Amane Taniguchi @thesocietynyc
Words / Bri Ng Schwartz
Photos / Virginia Kluiters
Styling / Phil Gomez
Creative Direction / Rory Rodriguez
Creative Producer / Mars
MUA / Daddy Doll
Hair / Isaac Davidson
Graphic Design / Rory Rodriguez
Cake Art / Silly Goose Cakes
Retoucher / Veranika Nadtachayeva
Photo assistant / Derick Marquez
PA + BTS / Anna DeVoursney
Shot at @lavanchelsea
Glam-pop heartthrob Haiden Henderson feels right at home in our New Romantics inspired wonderland. Given his past life as a teen model, Haiden is in his element being photographed. He shares that he’s often more comfortable striking a pose with smouldering pout than he is on stage, although you would never know from his larger than life presence as a performer, most recently witnessed during his opening set on the latest 5 Seconds of Summer tour.
With his towering height, icy blue eyes, and bleach blonde locks, you can’t miss him. The former model turned Aerospace Engineering major turned rockstar is entering his bleach era. His debut comes October 30th, and magically weaves together contrasting sonic worlds. Between Hans Zimmer orchestral backings, shredding guitar chords, and Haiden’s hot, heavy and high pitched vocal range that’s smooth as butter, he cements himself as a one-of-a-kind voice. “This album is like a chaotic collection of vibes that are inside my head.” Haiden shares on the new record. “This feels like the inside of my head after a few years of bleach damage has fucked with it.”
His relationship to his years of hair dying goes deeper than what is on the surface. It is a cry for individuality in a sea of the ordinary. “While I was writing this project, bleaching my hair became the most visceral and simple example of my need to be liked by everybody.” Haiden revels. “I will take a chemical and something that is corrosive and apply it to myself to make myself more beautiful, unique, or special.” His hair, matched with his eccentric and flamboyant nature is a middle finger to male mediocrity and traditional ideas around masculinity, something that was top of mind for him in developing the world around bleach.
“My main goal for coming into making bleach was trying to make the guitar interesting again, because I just think that a lot of white boys that hold guitars are very boring to me.” Haiden admits. “Guys in music have been boring and have not been taking risks, and have been so lacking in playfulness.”
When asked about his creative and sonic inspirations on this record and beyond, Haiden credits the pop-girl boom that rose in 2024 with the Charli XCX, Sabrina Carpenter, and Chappell Roan trifecta. “They are shepherds guiding pop music back to individuality. I think that’s so brave. This is my first time really embracing those things.” When asked about the value of the artistic community around him, he notes the Katseye girls as his peers who he looks up to for their work ethic and discipline.
A self proclaimed loverboy and serial monogamist raised by a single mom, he has always felt more comfortable around women. His connection and comfort in his feminine side is a driving force on bleach, with singles like “i wanna be your girl” and “NSFW” that center his relationship to sexuality with women. “In every single sexy song, the girl’s always on a pedestal.” Haiden shares “I will do this for you to please you. If you want this, I will do this.” He has certainly won the hearts of fangirls far and wide on his shows with 5SOS, a band famous for their dedicated, heavily female fanbase.
“My role on tour was to go out there and be the flirt because the band’s a little bit older now. They’ve got the most incredibly passionate fandom. I went up there and was being a flirt the whole time, winking at the audience and kind of giving them their fan girl moment.” His respect and admiration for fangirls goes beyond the stage. He credits fangirl content creation as something he consumes in his free time, and applies the lessons learned into his own online persona.
Having begun his music career during the pandemic, TikTok has been a major influence in his popularity. Shifting his strategy from treating it like work to sending things in a group chat. A choreographed dance for “i wanna be your girl” has had moments of virality on the platform, and Haiden has been heart warmed seeing audience members at the shows doing the dance with him. The communal moment has helped him build more confidence as a live performer, alongside his nightly wardrobe. “I’ve been wearing more makeup on stage, cuntier outfits, and treating my mic stand as a stripper pole. I’m doing things that are risky and make me feel silly, and it takes courage to do.”
In the renaissance of brunette heartthrobs on the stage and screen and hyper-masculinity as the gold standard for what it takes to find success as a man, Haiden’s willingness to swing the pendulum is a refreshing shift, and what our 2026 take on The New Romantics is all about. He hopes that with bleach, fans and first time listeners will feel inspired to lean into what makes them different. His advice for other guys? Show a little skin!
“Take some fashion risks. Let me see your nipples through your shirt. Do something interesting to your hair. Get a lip ring. Do something that scares you just to try it. You’re so macho, but you’re not going to get that haircut. You’re going to jump off a cliff to save a damsel in distress, but you’re not going to wear a crop top.”
Having gotten a sneak peak into the full world of bleach, old and new fans alike are sure to be immersed in the sticky-sweet pop elements of the record and Haiden’s seductive sonic escape. Fans can expect some exciting, immersive teasers ahead of the release. In the meantime, we’ll be debating making that salon appointment for the dramatic change that Haiden would want us to pursue.
Haiden / Jacket, Vintage. Pants, Kid Super. Boots, John Fluevog. Toni / Dress, Kid Super. Jewelry, Alexis Bittar. Tights, Wolford. Shoes, Ruthie Davis.
Toni / Dress, caroline zimbalist. Pearl choker, Vivienne Westwood. Bracelets, Laruicci. Layered necklace, stylist own. Shoes, John Fluevog. Haiden / Jacket, Menyelek. Shorts, Destroyer of Worlds. Boots, stylist own.
Amane / Dress, Menyelek. Necklace, vintage. Bracelet + Shoes, Lariucci. Hair piece, stylist own. Toni / Hat, Vintage. Coat, Sour Dice. Shorts, Aknvas. Boots, Betsey Johnson. Haiden / Full look, Menyelek. Gloves + Necklace, Lariucci.
Amane / Bodysuit, Sour Dice. Pants, Destroyer of Worlds. Gloves, Jean Paul Gaultier. Shoes, Betsey Johnson. Toni / Dress, Kid Super. Jewelry, Alexis Bittar. Tights, Wolford. Shoes, Ruthie DavisHaiden / Sequins bow, ESQUE/BY. Pants, Laruicci.
Hat, Vintage. Coat, Sour Dice. Shorts, Aknvas. Boots, Betsey Johnson.
Jacket, Vintage. Pants, Kid Super. Boots, John Fluevog. Coat, Destroyer of Worlds. Necklace, Alexis Bittar. Underwear, Boss. Briefs, Leak.
Amane / Bodysuit, Sour Dice. Pants, Destroyer of Worlds. Gloves, Jean Paul Gaultier. Shoes, Betsey Johnson. Toni / Dress, Kid Super. Jewelry, Alexis Bittar. Tights, Wolford. Shoes, Ruthie Davis. Haiden / Sequins bow, ESQUE/BY. Pants, Laruicci.
