Don't you just love a good success story with a happy ending, especially the ones where models are scouted in their early teens when they're wandering in the mall during summer vacation? Then we've got quite a line-up for you. Many such stories began right here, in India, and led not only to the runways of Mumbai and Delhi but further, to fashion weeks in Paris, Milan and New York. While Indian faces may have been previously considered 'too exotic' for international runways, today many of them are famed supermodels of the highest regard in the fashion sphere. Here are nine Indian models who made waves on foreign shores.
1. Anjali Mendes
Anjali isn't just another Indian model turned international superstar - she's an icon that came before everyone else. Coming from a modest Goan home with six siblings, Anjali (previously known as Phyllis) took off to Paris on a whim with a one-way ticket in the early 70s. After showing up at Pierre Cardin's salon out of the blue, she finally met the man himself and he hired her on the spot. The leggy lady played Cardin's muse for over a decade while also modelling for designers like Schiaparelli and Givenchy; post which she managed the Indian side of brand operations. After she slowly retired into writing cookbooks and periodically visiting her Indian family, Anjali died in 2010 from a stomach infection.
2. Kirat Young
Before most Indian models made it big abroad, there was Kirat Young (nee Bhinder) in the 70s. At just 19, she met designer Yves Saint Laurent in Paris. The iconic creator of 'Le Smoking' was searching for just the right face to launch his Ballet Russes collection. She may not have known it then but Kirat was that face. The show propelled her to supermodel status almost instantly and soon enough, she was rubbing shoulders with Iman and Jerry Hall. Today, Kirat shuttles between Paris and London while designing fine jewellery.
3. Marielou Phillips
But Kirat wasn't the only Indian woman whose career YSL was responsible for launching. In 1993, he discovered Marielou Phillips, who went on to model for designers like Givenchy and Armani in Paris. After a run-in with Karl Lagerfeld at the airport, she joined Chanel to design footwear and swimsuits. When Marielou learned about an opening in India, she scooped it up to become Chanel's Global Head of Press and Public Relations.
4. Meghna Reddy
Most know Meghna Reddy from her days as a VJ in the '90s. At the peak of her career, she left it all and took off to London to pursue modelling. Meghna then featured in fashion campaigns for names like Macy's, Tommy Hilfiger and Sisley and even went on to walk the ramp for Diane Von Furstenberg. Besides her successful run as a fashion model, Meghna got married in Greece in 2008.
5. Lakshmi Menon
More recently, Lakshmi Menon is a name everybody is familiar with when they speak of Indian models achieving international acclaim. At a towering 5 feet 10 inches, Lakshmi set out to study sociology but ended up modelling for ads which then led to an international career after Jean Paul Gaultier spotted her in a magazine. From there, Lakshmi went on to walk the ramp for designers like D&G and Givenchy and after her turn in the spotlight, came back to settle in Goa.
6. Ujjwala Raut
One of India' most successfully stylish exports to date is Ujjwala Raut. After entering the Femina Miss India contest as a college student and winning 'Femina Look Of The Year', Ujjwala was launched as an Indian model who went abroad. She went on to walk for designers like Gucci, Valentino and even the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show. Along with her runway career, Ujjwala has also covered most glossies from ELLE to L'Officiel.
7. Radhika Nair
With her chiseled jawline and large eyes, you just know Radhika was always destined to be a model. And rightly enough, she was scouted as a commerce student in Bangalore which led her to be cast in a Balenciaga show as their first ever Indian model. What followed was a slew of gigs for Vetements and Etro amongst others. One thing's for certain - it's only going up for this girl.
8. Monica Tomas
Monica may not yet be as well-known as the Neelam Gills of the modelling world but you'll definitely be hearing her name a lot more often. The 20-something from Tamil Nadu signed up with a model management agency and was scooped up for one of her first castings by Zac Posen. Monica has gone on to appear at some of the world's biggest fashion weeks in London and Paris so we can only expect big things from her in the future.
9. Bhumika Arora
Hailing from Karnal in Haryana, Bhumika was interested in fashion ever since she watched models on TV as a young girl. Once she studied business administration, she felt confident to take the leap into modelling and landed up on the Paris runway of Dries Van Noten in 2014. Since then, the small towner has become an international superstar that has covered magazines like ELLE, walked for designers like Balmain and even bagged campaigns for Bobbi Brown.
Ladies, you've come a long way and how.
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