Where has the supermodel gone? |  2008-07-29

You can look but you will never find

If we were to really look, and then look a little bit more, I really don‘t think you could find even one supermodel -- though they all call themselves that. But really, what do you think?

I remember the years of Anna Bredemeyer and Persis Khambatta. These ladies set the trends, instead of following them. They were rule breakers, and would do things never imagined of an Indian model - like Persis going bald.


But now, they all look the same to me, and aren‘t they all just a bit too safe. There are no cutting edge trends, no anomalies - just straight-jacketed hanger mentality. I have not seen a hint of personality in anyone. The last model I think of as supermodel had to be Mehr Jessia.

Let‘s take a look at the West. First there was Twiggy, and then came Naomi Campbell and Cindy Crawford, then Kate Moss, Heidi Klum, Gisele Bundchen and now Alessandra Ambrosio. They have successfully kept on coming.

But in India, it sort of just doesn‘t take shape.


There was a little hope when Aishwarya and Sushmita got the world marvelling at Indian beauty, but after that, it all just fell to pieces. And you couldn‘t really call them models because they gave it up soon after.

So what is that prevents the Indian model fraternity to flourish like their western counterparts?

Well, it‘s because they lack professionalism. They lack the drive and the fire. I think the tags come too soon.


A supermodel is someone who changes the way a person thinks about fashion, but in India, the tag is given to any one who walks at 20 ramp shows in a year.

That‘s not it.

What I mean to say is that the Indian supermodel becomes a supermodel without much sweat.

That‘s why I have never thought of Diandra Soares, Nina Manuel, Carol Gracias etc as supermodels.

What have they done? Would you want to ape their style in any way?


Take for example supermodel of the yesteryears, Anna Bredemeyer.

I met her recently and she blew my head. Here was a woman truly beautiful and when I looked at her looking fantastic at 50, I felt like asking her about her beauty secrets.

I wouldn‘t even dream asking any of the above mentioned ladies about that, because they already look old by comparison.

A supermodel also has to pass a fire test - she has to walk the international ramps and come home unscathed.

Ujjwala Raut did that. And so did Lakshmi Menon. But somehow they don‘t have hat magnetic pull of say Kate Moss or a Persis.


That I feel is the fault of the model. It‘s also the fault of the Indian mindset. I will tell you how. The Indian audience is to blame as it pampers the ego of the model too much, too soon, and the model is to blame as she lets it get to her too much, too soon.

Raut and Menon don‘t even live in India anymore, so how can you even think of calling giving them the Indian supermodel tag?

I also think that most Indian supermodels have their noses so high up in the air that they don‘t want to even think about working on their bodies or their attitude.


So they are either too thin or just too fat.

Has someone seen this model called Tamara Moss?

I saw a swimsuit spread of hers in some magazine and was repulsed. She was reed thin and had every little bone in her body sticking out. It really looked bad.

I don‘t think Indian models know how to look sexy without looking as if they are not feeding themselves.

Take a look at Gisele Bundchen. She has the curves and a glowing face. She is truly sexy.


I think the only Indian model who has a decent body is Nina Manuel, but I can see cellulite creeping up, so I wonder how long that will last.

According to Wikipedia, a supermodel is a highly-paid elite fashion model who usually has a worldwide reputation and often a background in haute couture and commercial modeling. We really don‘t have an Indian contestant for that title. But we are looking out for one.

Will the real supermodel please stand up?