At 16, Keeley Hazell left school to work at a hairdressers, where she started as a trainee. It was there that work colleagues persuaded her to try her luck at modeling. At 17, Kily Hazel competed in The Daily Star's Search for a Beach Babe contest and won. She later quit hairdressing and enrolled at Lewisham College to start a City & Guilds in fashion, but was not there for very long. Later in the year, she submitted photos to The Sun's Page 3 Idol competition. She became a favourite of many readers and was later chosen the winner. She won £10,000 worth of clothes and a one-year membership to the Rex Cinema & Bar in London. Also, a cast was made of her bust by sculpturist Leigh Heppell. Three copies in bronze were made. Two are in the Sun offices and one is in her house.
Also part of Hazell's Page 3 Idol win was a 1-year exclusivity contract with The Sun, with Girl Management acting as a secondary agent. After that ran out, she spent a short time with Frank White Agency. She is now being handled by Jon Fowler, who also manages model/actress Kelly Brook and used to work with George Michael's manager, Andy Stephens.
Hazell went on to become one of the most popular Page 3 girls in the The Sun and appeared in "lads' mags" such as Loaded and Zoo. She also had her own 2006 wall calendar and was on the cover of The Sun's 2006 Page 3 calendar.
In September 2005, Playboy offered Hazell a chance to be a Playmate, but she declined. "I was very flattered, but it's not something I feel comfortable doing, so don't hold your breath," she told The Sun's online Page 3 magazine, 3zine, in October 2005.
In the 31 March-6 April 2006 issue of Zoo, it was announced that Hazell would be posing exclusively for the magazine (though she will continue to appear in The Sun and has since appeared in FHM, which, like Zoo, is owned by EMAP).
Keeley Hazell had a small role in the film Cashback, playing "Voluptuous Girl". She wants to do more acting in the future. She has been attending drama school (in addition to studying psychology). She is currently putting together a showreel.
In 2005, Hazell was involved in an automobile accident, which caused her face to temporarily swell. She suffered no major injuries.
In January 2006, Hazell made headlines when Chelsea and England footballer Joe Cole was beaten up at a party held at her home in Grove Park, South East London. She spoke to The Sun in March, denying rumours surrounding the incident.
In February 2006, Hazell was involved in another automobile accident. This time, she crashed into a lamp post, totalling her Mini Cooper. Again, she suffered no major injuries.