Not skinny enough?

With various fashion weeks taking place in the country now, it seems the models should be happy with ample work. But turns out that most still rue the fact that they are not getting International exposure.

With various fashion weeks taking place in the country now, it seems the models should be happy with ample work. But turns out that most still rue the fact that they are not getting International exposure. And while the size debate may be gaining momentum on the global ramps, most Indian models are rejected on international runways as they are considered too fat by foreign standards.

"I had gone for an international modelling competition to Shanghai but a represntative from Milan told me 'You'll have to get a lot skinnier if you'd like to make it in Milan.'' said model Arshia Ahuja. However on the Indian turf Ahuja has turned into a fashion week favourite.

Well, the waistline it seems is just one of the reasons why India's march on the international runway has been limited to a sparse few. "It's not just the fact that Indian models aren't fit enough. It's also the fact that here they get coddled. In a Milan or a Paris for a single casting a minimum 100 girls or so will surely show up.

Here, designers end up literally pleading with girls to walk for them. Why else would girls who've been walking for close to 10 years still be considered hot property here? So, when the benchmark for the best happens to be sub-par, of course the standards won't match a market like Milan or Paris," says fashion choreographer, Harmeet Bajaj. A fashion editor from a glossy on condition of anonymity was more explicit, "When some girls walk on the runway a wobble of flesh starts from their toes and literally goes up. It's not that they're fat, they're just not fit. You can't crash diet before a fashion week and think you're fit," she said.