Outlander has not only entertained fans worldwide, but it also changed the life of one superfan. After watching the hit show, she decided to move from her home in the USA to Scotland.
Hailey Beaupre, a dedicated fan, fell in love with Scotland while watching Outlander and decided to make a big change.
She said the show helped her deal with personal loss. Introduced to Outlander by her mother, 23-year-old Hailey would stay up all night watching episodes, even if it meant going to a maths exam on just two hours of sleep.
Later that month, Hailey booked a flight to Scotland and arranged an Outlander day tour with Highlander tours. There, she met Andy, who became her mentor and a father figure in Scotland.
The trip had a profound effect on Hailey, originally from Connecticut. When she returned to the US, she decided to change her entire life plan – and even got a tattoo dedicated to her favorite show, reports the Daily Record.
“Over the past four years, I have completely immersed myself in everything Scotland and Outlander. I’ve learned everything I can.”
After her trip, Hailey switched her university studies in education for history, saying she’s especially interested in Scotland’s past, including the Jacobites and Mary Queen of Scots.
“I revolved my degree around my own interests, which was Outlander and Scotland. In January 2020 I decided I would study abroad, my school had an exchange program to study at the University of Dundee so I was in Dundee for two months, having the greatest time of my life when Covid-19 hit.
“I was forced to quickly leave Scotland and go back to the USA. That week, when the whole world shut down and I was absolutely devastated.
“I was quarantined in my parent’s back yard and a couple of days later my best friend was killed in an accident, so the whole week was horrible.
“I think I needed to go through that horrible time and be in a really bad place personally and emotionally, to get through. My only driving force for me to keep going and keep living was to get back to Scotland, that was the only thing that kept me going and Outlander was my comfort zone. It was the only thing that gave me any sense of peace and comfort.
“Getting back to Scotland was the only thing I knew could make a difference in my life at this time.”
When the restrictions eased, Hailey went back to Scotland and did her master’s in Museum Studies at the University of Aberdeen. After that, she started working with Andy at Highlander tours, looking after their social media.
Last year, she shared: “When I went on the first tour with Andy from Highlander Tours, his passion and dedication and clear love for what he does just gave me this feeling that that is exactly how I felt and I wanted to convey to other people and for myself.
“He inspired me to change my life because of what he does. And now we’re practically family. I just had this feeling walking up to Midhope Castle (Lallybroch) and was just thinking ‘Wow. This is what I want to do’.”
Hailey even went to London for the season six premiere of the show in 2022 and chatted with Caitriona Balfe.
She said: “The London premiere was a dream come true for me, I was able to tell Caitriona Balfe that she saved my life after four years.
“The orchestra was stunning and the episode was amazing.”
Hailey’s big dream is to move to Scotland for good because she feels it’s where she’s meant to be.
Source: irishstar.com