“Being an Indian actually helped me stand out from the crowd”, says supermodel Bhumika Arora

Indian supermodel, Bhumika Arora has graced the international runway like no one ever before. From Fendi to Marc Jacobs, she’s done it all. Unlike previous Indian supermodels, Bhumika has a ladylike poise to her, which obviously landed her on the buzzing runway. After a stint of three years on the Indian runway, Bhumika tried her luck internationally and as we know now, she’s an international supermodel. With her unique thick eyebrows (just like Cara Delevingne’s) and chiselled face, anyone can mistake her for an Italian belle. Since we were so intrigued by her silent charm on the runway, we chatted to her about her life, art in motion and being a foreigner in various countries.

Tell us how you feel right now, juggling modelling and home life.

It is a little difficult being always on the go and staying in so many different time zones. Sometimes it's exhausting, but it's all worth it. I get to visit the most beautiful cities in the world, witness so many different cultures, enjoy special delicacies, and meet many wonderful people. This is definitely a life I've only dreamed of before.

Give us a brief about your background and how you landed into modelling

I am from a small town, Karnal, in north India. It's a quaint place and a bit untouched in terms of international fashion. 

Modelling internationally is often seen as a high-profile job. Are international models treated the same as in India? Please share your thoughts.

I don't know if I can compare anything at this point in my career yet, but the recognition I received as an international model is definitely something I didn't expect. Fashion definitely provides a global exposure regardless of where you live or what language you speak.

Models are generally not looked upon as very healthy (so they appear to be) and there are often cases of anorexia. How would you react to this?

I think models are some of the health-conscious people, actually. I have seen everyone around me maintaining very healthy diets and exercising regularly even with our hectic schedules. I always feel sad when people assume such things about models. In most cases we don't starve ourselves - it's mainly metabolism in effect.

Being a model must be tough especially when your ethnicity is different. How has your treatment been so far? Were there any cases where you were made to feel lower than others?

Being a model is a little tough in general as there is a lot of competition, but I welcome the challenge since you have to be tough and diligent in any business. Being Indian actually helped me stand out from the crowd, and people have been very kind to me and always very interested in learning more about my cultural background. I don't recall being placed lower than others - rather, I started embracing my Indian look and culture even more.

Having walked for so many runway shows, you must have had lots of exposure in the high fashion, glamour side of the industry. Which would you say, has been your best show till date and why?

I love all the shows I've walked for, but I am still not over one of the most recent experiences: the Fendi couture show in Rome at Trevi Fountain. That was an epic experience that I was honoured to be a part of.

Appearing on VOGUE India’s cover must have been a proud moment for you. How was your experience working with them?

It was an amazing moment and one of the proudest in my life! I was incredibly happy and honoured to see myself on the cover of Vogue. The shoot itself was very fun, as it mainly took place on a boat in London, and so much colour and energy were involved in each final image. Everyone on the team was very inspiring to work with, and I hope they felt the same about me.

Being in a different country every time and travelling must be hectic for you. How do you manage to be so flawless and gorgeous?

I think it's very important to rest properly no matter your routine, so I try to sleep for a minimum of 8 hours each night. Also, I try to eat healthy food and drink juices to keep my skin and body constantly hydrated. Having good face creams on hand is another key, and I also follow some traditional Indian beauty tips like applying sandalwood on my face.

If there is one fashion personality (from any era) you would like to spend the day with, who would it be and why?

This is a difficult question! I think it would depend on what we're doing for the day - any great fashion personality will likely have their own idea of what's fun to do, so I would just go along and learn from their experience.

Tell us what’s next for Bhumika Arora as a model. Like what can we expect from you in the future. Are you doing more shows, covers, etc?

I don't really know what's up next, but I really hope for the best. I trust my support team completely as they have always pushed me in the right directions.

Fashion and art are a match made in heaven and many shows such as Chanel have incorporated it in their shows. Which is your favourite artist and why?

I don't necessarily have a favourite artist, but I'm always impressed by anyone who pushes the boundaries. A couple of examples are the smoking dress from the recent Moschino collection or the works of VivanSundaram.

Lastly, what experiential tips would you give to aspiring models in India, who are looking to work internationally.

Answer: I would like to say to them: cherish your uniqueness because that's what makes you special even if you don't realise it yet. Trust yourself above all and take at least one step towards accomplishing your dreams every single day.