CHLOÉ On a high

Chloé Hayden on healing, Heartbreak High and finding her happily ever after

- ADRIENNE TAM

Growing up, Chloé Hayden didn't see anyone like her on screen. Bullied and ostracised by her school peers for being "different", she was diagnosed with autism at the age of 13 and switched to home education after attending 10 schools in eight years. She spent many of her teen years blogging about her experience with autism under the pseudonym Princess Aspien and, to her surprise, thousands of people reached out in response, thanking her for making them feel that they weren't alone.

Today, the 26-year-old is once again paving the way for neurodivergent people all over the world with her Logie-award nominated portrayal of autistic character Quinni in Netflix's Heartbreak High series reboot. The hit Australian show, which is shooting its second season, was lauded globally for its grittiness as well as its diversity and truthful representation. While previous depictions of autistic characters were mainly played stereotypically by neurotypical men, Hayden's rendering is nuanced and authentic.