The modelling age for girls is hitting new lows. In 14-year-old Kendall Kardashian’s latest bikini shoot, she’s made up and sexed up to look 21 years — seven years older than her age. Back home too, a growing number of young girls in the capital with dreams of becoming a model are dolling up to look older than their age to fit the bill. Looks like modelling has found teen aspirants, who want it all, glam image and the moolah.
Voices from the fraternity talk about the trend here. Meyhar Bhasin, compere and grooming expert says it was initially shocking to have a teenager walk in to become a model, but not anymore. “I remember this pushy mother of a tall, pretty, 17-year-old, who approached me, insisting that I make her daughter, a model. I advised both to wait for a couple of years, but the mother wouldn’t listen. The truth is our industry isn’t ready as yet to have 14-15-year-old models, perhaps five years down the line it will be.”
Fashion designer Rina Dhaka says, “Americans are obsessed with looking perfect, it is a virus there. To use girls at such a young age is being morally irresponsible, but as a designer, by way of selling clothes, it’s fantastic. We cannot undermine that today we wouldn’t have a Kate Moss and Naomi Campbell as supermodels had they not been discovered in their teens, but the same can’t be said for India.”
It’s still not a trend here unlike the West, avers model Aanchal Oberoi, who became a model at 18. “After completing school, I enrolled in a 10-day workshop on modelling during my summer break and got into it professionally in due time,” she adds.
With Miley Cyrus and Britney Spears making it to the Time Top 10 Teen Idol list, it is not surprising that young girls want to follow the lead. Parents too are supportive of their kids’ decision. Agrees Sushma Puri of Elite Model Management, “Parents today are open to their child taking up modelling. We don’t get as young models as 14, but 17. Most girls who come at this age, continue with their studies. Work happens around their schedules. Talking about exploitation, it can happen anywhere, but not when one works through an agency.”
Fashion designer Jattinn Kochhar, says he discourages young girls, especially those who are underage. “There are basic requirements of a model, which may not be present at such a young age.”
Rampscorcher Nayanika Chatterjee says that it isn’t odd today to spot a teen on the ramp as there are not too many underage models around, and so many avenues have opened up for them like TV reality shows.
Fashion stylist Nikhil Agrawal says he gets loads of requests on Facebook from eager teens. “Boys and girls approach me for style tips. I tell them to take modelling as a hobby,” he adds.