 In the early 1970s, with Pat Cleveland, Connie Cook, Alva Chinn, Anjelica Huston, Karen Bjornson, among others, Ast became one of Halston's favored troupe of models, nicknamed the Halstonettes.She then became associated with Andy Warhol, who gave her the role of landlady Lydia in his film "Heat" (1972) alongside Joe Dallesandro.In 1975, Ast moved to Hollywood to pursue her acting career.