Are Delhi models taking it too easy?

What kind of models do you expect to see at India’s biggest fashion event? Confident, well-groomed girls who can carry off both Western and Indian wear?

What kind of models do you expect to see at India’s biggest fashion event? Confident, well-groomed girls who can carry off both Western and Indian wear? Some of the girls who turned up for the first model auditions of the Wills Lifestyle India Fashion Week, A/W 2010, on Tuesday, barely qualified to be called models.

With visible stretch marks, body hair, unhealthy facial skin and shaky gait, most had nothing going for them. One of the girls even seemed doped out! Out of 50 freshers who auditioned, the jury members shortlisted 10, both Indian and foreign. Said designer Niki Mahajan, “It was difficult to cull out even 10 models. Most girls were clearly not serious about modelling. Every girl works on basics like good skin and waxed skin, being models they should be even more careful, but I sensed a lack of dedication in most.”

Designer Ashish Soni was more candid. “Most girls were not upto the mark. Of course, they’re fresh so you can overlook the lack of finer nuances because that comes with practice. But how can you ignore them turning out in wrong dresses and shoes and wrong attitude?”

So much so, the Fashion Design Council of India is now considering more auditions for the event. FDCI president Sunil Sethi told

HT City

, “We have finalised 30 models, both established and new faces. We’re considering one more audition in Delhi and, if need be, we’ll have one in Mumbai as well.”