The most fascinating part about glam world is that it attracts multitude of people from diverse backgrounds. And if you thought modelling was just a pastime for, well, blondes looking for free tickets, travel and of course, beautiful clothes, you are totally mistaken. As the newbies at the WIFW have a Plan B.
Olena Faraponova, from Ukriane is a major in finance and if it wasnt the lure of the archlights, she would be happy to sit behind a desk and take home a hefty packet. A first timer at the Wills Lifestyle India Fashion Week, which is slated to begin from Oct 6 to 10 at the Pragati Maidan, it was the lucrative working opportunity that got her excited about frequenting the country that she admits is fabulous, even though the food hasnt much grown on her. I was here three years back and I must admit that the country may be struggling with poverty and population, but the fashion industry is much more advanced than in Ukraine, she smiles, her blue eyes twinkling with delight.
The tall, skinny girl from a cold nation, did warm up hearts in the fashion world bagging prestigious shoots for Rohit Bal and Tarun Tahiliani. Just 23, Olena will surprise you with her candidness, and doesnt shy away from admitting that she may love the perks of being a model, but ten years down the line, I hope to raise a family, get married and maybe work in the finance department of a multinational.
The same honesty gets reflected in Sangya Lakhanpal, an army kid who grew up all over the country. Charmed by the live, raw energy she found the fashion world pulsating with, she decided to take the plunge. And no, she is not going to do this forever, as this psychology graduate from Sacramento, California is hoping to cross the Rubicon and move on to 70MM. I have already done a few TV commercials, it is a start in the direction I hope to move soon, films, she says.
But thats not all. Sangya is designing her own line of jewellery, loves styling and feels that being a clothes horse can be quite stagnating after a few happy years. I have been walking the ramp for two years and what has kept me going is family, good friends and it always helps if you are grounded, she adds with a smile.
And no, the bickering and cat fights dont affect her, as life has taught her to go with the flow. Every profession has its share of upheavals, there is no perfect place in this world, it doesnt exist. How you handle a situation, with alacrity is what decides your fate, she says.
Maybe it was this easy going attitude that helped Ukraine-based model, another greenhorn, survive in India. Victoria Vozna has traveled all over the world and been a part of fashion weeks in China, Japan and Moscow. I was mesmerized by the culture and religiousness of Indians. They believe in the simple life, derive pleasures from inconsequential things, unlike the West, which is driven by success and power. It is a place which I would love to call home, if given a chance, she smiles.
As a first timer at WIFW, Victoria shows no sign of nervousness, even when she finds it hard to get into a body hugging zipped dress and dismisses it with a hearty laugh. Much like Hida Siddiqui, a fresh graduate from Delhi University, who stands tall at five feet nine inches and still loves her killer heels that give her wasp waist more definition in her skinny jeans. I grew up watching FTV, it opened my horizons, it gave me a reason to dream and to chase it, she says.
With a gruelling fitness regimen of two hours daily, maintaining a proper diet chart keeps Hida on her nimble toes. Im not much of a planner, I take each day as it comes, so I havent really thought about what I will do ten years from now. I am in a content space right now and thats what counts, she adds. But that doesnt mean, Hida is going to compromise on opulence. I would love to own many glamorous ensembles by Manish Malhotra, he leaves a lasting impression on you with his humility in a world ruled by egos, she concludes.