Julia Haart

Not to be confused with Julia Hart (disambiguation).

Julia Haart
Born	Julia Leibov (1971-04-11) April 11, 1971 Moscow, Soviet Union (now Russia)
Years active	2013–present
Labels	La Perla Elite World
Spouses	Yosef Hendler ​ (divorced)​ Silvio Scaglia ​ ​ (m. 2019; sep. 2022)​

Julia Haart (born April 11, 1971), previously Talia Leibov, is an American fashion designer, entrepreneur, and author. She is the founder of +Body by Julia Haart, a body-positive, technologically advanced shapewear brand. Julia is the former chief executive officer (CEO) of Elite Model Management. She previously owned a namesake shoe collection, and was creative director at the Italian luxury house La Perla. Haart is also the subject and executive producer of the Netflix miniseries My Unorthodox Life, which described her 2013 decision to leave her Haredi community. Haart serves on the Emerge America Creative Coalition, the ERA Coalition Advisory Board and the Association for Foreign Press Correspondents USA Board of Directors.

Biography

Early life

Haart was born in Moscow in 1971. She and her parents left Russia when she was 3, and moved to Austin, Texas. In Austin, she attended private school, and was the school's only Jewish student. When Haart was in fourth grade, they moved to Monsey, New York, which has a large Haredi community that appealed to her parents, as they grew more religious.

Haart attended Bais Yaakov Academy in Brooklyn, New York. At 16, she taught herself how to sew, and read fashion magazines in her house. When she was 18, she changed her first name, "to the more Hebrew-sounding Talia, in order to attract a match". After graduating from high school, she attended seminary for one year at Beth Jacob Jerusalem. At 19, she married her first husband, a yeshiva student, five years her senior.

Leaving the Haredi community

While living as a Haredi Jew throughout the 1990s and early 2000s, Haart became increasingly uncomfortable with her community. The treatment of her younger daughter, Miriam, bothered her in particular. In a 2021 interview with The New York Times, she said that her daughter "just wouldn't conform. They were doing to her what they had done to me — trying to push her down and mold her into that flat person that they could disappear. I couldn't let that happen."

After leaving the community, she took on the name Julia Haart. The last name Haart is derived from her maiden name, Leibov, which is similar to Lev, Hebrew for "heart".

Career

Early career

At the seminary, Haart obtained a teaching certificate. Thereafter, she taught English and/or Judaic Studies at several Jewish schools: Yeshiva Atlanta in Atlanta; Sha'arei Torah in Brooklyn; Bnos Leah Prospect Park Yeshiva High School in Brooklyn; Yeshiva of Spring Valley in Monsey; The Adolph Schreiber Hebrew Academy of Rockland (ASHAR) in New City; Bais Rochel in Monsey.

Throughout the 1990s and early 2000s, Haart worked as a Judaic Studies teacher at Yeshiva Atlanta; "staff who knew her at the time – when she went by the name Talia Hendler – recalled that she was beloved by students and known for her sharp style". For years, Haart secretly sold life insurance.

Julia Haart Shoe Collection

After leaving the Haredi community in 2013, Haart founded a shoe company, Julia Haart, with the goal to make shoes that were both fashionable and comfortable. She partnered with a ski boot engineer and a German company that creates a gel used by NASA to create a comfortable high-heeled shoe.

La Perla

In 2016, Haart collaborated with La Perla for their Spring and Fall 2016 accessory collections. The same year, she was named as the creative director for the brand.

Following her appointment as Creative Director of La Perla, Haart launched a new approach to ready-to-wear for the company. At La Perla, Haart created the first stretch Leavers lace, and launched a collection of ready-to-wear lingerie with built-in support. For her Fall/Winter 2017 fashion show, Haart constructed a "La Perla Manor" runway show, in which Naomi Campbell, Lindsey Wixson, Sasha Pivovarova and Kendall Jenner walked.

Haart is known for her 2017 Met Gala dress designed for Kendall Jenner. The gown consisted of 85,000 crystals affixed to a single string.

Elite World Group

In March 2019, she became chief executive officer and chief creative officer of the talent media conglomerate Elite World Group (EWG). Under Haart's leadership EWG has re-focused the brand and added new divisions. Elite World Group prioritizes assisting models to monetise their brands and business projects.

Additionally, Haart is the creative director of e1972, a luxury fashion brand launched by Elite World. The collection received a lot of positive media attention, and was celebrated for its "innovation, inclusivity, and inspiring message of empowerment".

Brazen Memoir

In April 2022, Haart released her memoir Brazen, published by Penguin Random House. The book details Haart's life story from an ultra-religious housewife to shoe designer, to CEO of the modeling agency, Elite World Group. The memoir was released in audiobook format simultaneously narrated by Julia Haart herself. Brazen received praise from critics. Soon after its release, the book became a Wall Street Journal, USA Today, and Sunday Times Bestseller.

+Body by Julia Haart

In 2023, Haart launched +Body by Julia Haart, an American shapewear and clothing brand. +Body focuses on body positivity and inclusivity across the brand and practices inclusive sizing. The shapewear was designed to be worn visibly with color-infused fabric technology. The line tackles common issues, fusing materials together to avoid white and seam lines. +Body has been listed as The Very Best Shapewear by The Strategist.

Activism

Julia Haart is a prominent advocate for women's rights, democracy, and social justice, using her public platform to highlight the challenges faced by marginalized communities worldwide. Her activism focuses particularly on supporting women living under oppressive regimes and promoting democratic values.

Ukraine

Julia Haart has been deeply involved in providing humanitarian support to Ukraine during its ongoing war with Russia. Haart received an award from the 109th Territorial Defense Brigade as gratitude for “a significant contribution to the development and support of the Ukrainian army, territorial integrity and inviolability of Ukraine”.

In December 2022, Haart partnered with the Volunteer Ambulance Corps and Ukraine Friends to personally deliver medical supplies to Bakhmut Ukraine. Her initiative brought ambulances, medicine, medical supplies and toys to the refugees and soldiers. Her efforts helped to draw international attention to the conditions in Ukraine. Haart partnered with actor Liev Schreiber in organizing charity events that successfully raised over one million hryvnias to support Ukrainian children affected by the war. These funds were used to provide critical resources, including medical supplies and educational support for children displaced by the conflict.

Combating antisemitism

Haart has been a strong advocate in the fight against antisemitism. In 2024, she launched Ahm Nation, a website to support social media advocates, helping them combat rising online antisemitism and providing resources for fighting hate speech. In 2023, Haart visited Israel to show solidarity after a series of Hamas attacks, where she met with communities affected by the violence. Haart accompanied an active IDF unit into Gaza, and interviewed both President Herzog and PM Netanyahu. Haart condemned anti-Israel protesters, and is using her platform to combat misinformation surrounding the Israeli conflict. In one 2024 rally, Haart spoke about her personal experiences as a Jewish woman and expressed her pride in her heritage, stating that she has “never been prouder to be a Jew”. At this event, she emphasized the importance of unity within the Jewish community and vowed to continue advocating against antisemitism, not only in the U.S. but across the globe.

Advocacy for Women in Iran

In the wake of widespread protests against the Iranian regime, particularly following the death of Mahsa Amini in police custody, Haart has used her platform to amplify the voices of Iranian women fighting for their rights. Haart led a protest in Washington, speaking out against the Iranian government’s treatment of women. During these protests, Haart spoke about the systematic oppression faced by women in Iran, including restrictions on dress, education, and freedom of speech. Haart, along with Kate Rigg, Heidi Sieck, Nicole Ansari, Shaunna Thomas, Marlene McCarty, Antoinette Cooper, Miriam Haart, BETTY, A'shanti F. Gholar, and Jen Aks organized cultural and art events such as the Paint2Power public art-making initiative, which raised awareness about the plight of Iranian women through creative expression. Haart participated in fundraising events, such as the SheHer fundraiser, aimed at raising awareness for Iranian women fighting for their freedom.

Awards and Recognitions

CHI È CHI Award (2021)

Haart received the CHI È CHI Award in recognition of her contributions to female empowerment and for being a source of inspiration to women.

21 Leaders for the 21st Century (2022)

In June 2022, Haart was named one of the "21 Leaders for the 21st Century," honoring her as one of the pioneering individuals advancing gender equality.

Icon Award for Impact and Innovation (2023)

Julia Haart was honored with this award during London Fashion Week in 2023. The award recognized her influence in both fashion and humanitarian efforts.

109th Territorial Defense Brigade Award (2023)

Haart was recognized by the 109th Territorial Defense Brigade of Ukraine for her contributions to the Ukrainian army and efforts to support the country's territorial integrity.

WIN Woman Leadership Award (2024)

Haart was awarded the WIN Woman Leadership Award at the WIN (Women in Negotiation) Summit, acknowledging her leadership and advocacy for women.

Legal battles

After Haart told Scaglia she was divorcing him in 2022, he fired her from Elite World Group. Haart sued Scaglia in Delaware's Chancery Court. Haart stated that as an equal owner of EWG, she could not be dismissed. On August 4, 2022, Vice Chancellor Morgan T. Zurn of the Delaware Chancery Court issued a ruling that although Julia owns 49.99% of the company, Silvio Scaglia is the controlling shareholder.

In February 2023, Julia Haart filed a fraud lawsuit against Silvio Scaglia, Paolo Barbieri, Jeffrey Feinman, and the accounting firm, DDK & Company. Haart alleged that Scaglia and his co-conspirators misrepresented her ownership in the company, and induced her to continue working as CEO of EWG without a salary or contract. The lawsuit was initially dismissed by the court, but Haart appealed the decision.

In October 2024, the New York Appellate Division granted Haart the appeal and reinstated Haart’s claims in her lawsuit against Silvio Scaglia, Jeffrey Feinman, and the accounting firm, DDK & Company. The court found that Haart’s reliance on Scaglia’s statements about owning 50% of Freedom Holding Inc. (FHI) was reasonable due to their fiduciary relationship as family members and co-owners.

Additionally, the court reinstated claims against Jeffrey Feinman, noting that it was reasonable for Haart to rely on his representation as an accountant. Claims of fraudulent concealment related to FHI’s preferred stock were also reinstated, with the court affirming Scaglia’s duty to disclose due to their fiduciary relationship. Furthermore, the claim that Feinman and DDK aided and abetted Scaglia’s fraud was reinstated, with the court finding that the preparation of key documents, including tax returns, constituted substantial assistance.

In June 2024, an arrest warrant was issued for Scaglia after he was found in contempt of court for failing to comply with a court order requiring him to pay $300,000 in legal fees to Haart. As a result, the court sentenced him to 20 days in jail.

By September 2024, Scaglia’s financial situation became a point of contention in the ongoing litigation. Scaglia requested a court-appointed attorney, citing financial hardship. However, Haart's legal team raised questions about his financial claims, pointing to reports of Scaglia's spending on yachts and private jets during the summer.

Personal life

Haart has four children with her first husband, Yosef Hendler: Batsheva, Shlomo, Miriam, and Aron. Batsheva, who goes by the last name Haart, is a content creator who was married to Binyamin "Ben" Weinstein from 2012 until their divorce in November 2021. Miriam has also adopted her mother's last name Haart. Aron, who is in high school, splits his time between his parents in Manhattan and Monsey, New York.

In June 2019, Haart married Silvio Scaglia.

Haart is the eldest of eight children, one of whom died in a car accident at the age of 5. Only one of her siblings, a sister named Hannah, has a relationship with her; her parents and other siblings stopped talking to her after she left her Orthodox community.

My Unorthodox Life

Main article: My Unorthodox Life

Haart is the subject of the Netflix series My Unorthodox Life, which premiered in July 2021. The documentary series follows the professional and personal life of Haart in her role as chief executive officer of Elite World Group, as well as an author, mother and wife. The show has been received critically by many Jewish community members.

In 2022, the Jewish Journal named Haart one of "The Top 10 Jewish Reality TV Stars of All Time."