Image for ‘Ramp’age by stu

You look stunning as you sashay down the ramp and garner a thunderous applause from the crowd. But little does the audience know that you’ve just had a hectic day at college. Yes, modelling is a hot hobby and sometimes, even a prospective full-time profession for college students who’ve got looks and confidence. But they believe that completing their studies is a must and one shouldn’t succumb to the glam world and drop out of college.

Says model Neema Thimmaiah, who just graduated from St Josephs College, “I started modelling in my second year. I would bunk classes and go for shows, but somehow I’d manage to get the minimum required attendance. But, I’d never take up shows during exams as I wanted to concentrate on my studies too. I’m planning to write my IAS exams next year and am even going for coaching classes.” Neema has enrolled herself in the morning batch so she can do her modelling assignments later in the day. But she doesn’t want to be a full-time model. “I can’t depend on my beauty and body till the end. I need a strong educational background for a better future,” she says.
For model and Miss India finalist Faith Pandey, who started modelling in her final year of college, modelling is a great way to earn money and not depend on your parents for cash. “It’s a fun job. The pay is quite good for students and you can use the money to buy that little dress you always wanted! I didn’t miss a lot of classes as most of my shows fell on weekends,” she says.
Dropping out of college to become a model is a foolish thing to do, she says, adding, “Balancing both studies and modelling is not so difficult. I’m a full-time model now, but I plan to do my MBA in a year’s time. Your parents have invested so much money in you and you have to make it up to them by finishing your studies. Ten years down the line, when make-up and dresses are around and you have no degree in hand, you will repent it.”
Another student-cum-model is Nischitha Rao, a 19-year-old student from Mount Carmel College. She started off as a model when she was in first PUC (11th grade). “At first, I got into the fashion team in college and that’s how I got the exposure. I also took part in the Bangalore Fashion Week,” says the teen.
Earning Rs 2,000 per ramp show initially, she feels is a good deal for a student. “Right now, it’s only a hobby. After I finish my BCom, if I’m not going to study further, then I might take it up full-time,” says Nischitha, who has had no trouble balancing college and her shows.

Ikyatha Yerasala
The Asian Age