Interview with Mumbai based fashion model Nibedita Saikia

Gorgeous and intelligent Nibedita Saikia from Tezpur, Assam is a fashion model based out of Mumbai. It had always been Nibedita dream to be a model and with her stunning looks and rock star attitude she is surly a star in the making. Can you tell us a bit about your background and how you got into modeling? Nibedita: Ever since I was a teenager, I’ve always wanted to be a model. I love fashion, wearing pretty outfits everywhere I go, wearing different hairstyles and loved taking pictures. I’ve always been a stylish person from work to outdoors. I want to be an inspiration to ladies my age and would love to be a role model for children as well as young adults. I want them to be able to look at me and say if she can do it, I know I can do it. What do you enjoy the most about modeling? Nibedita: It's a great opportunity to travel, and you get to meet so many different people. You’re never stuck at a desk, which is the main reason I chose it. And you get invited to fairly interesting events you otherwise wouldn't.  People seem to think your job is all that and a bag of potato chips, so they invite you around to cool places. Also, you can be the first to wear fabulous designer clothes, shoes, and accessories. And is there a negative? Nibedita: The negative aspects of modeling include: · Not getting paid a lot of money at the beginning. · You may not have work for a few weeks which will also reduce your finances dramatically. · You will have to diet all the time to remain trim and healthy. · You must also make sure you exercise which is negative if you hate exercising. · Most of the work involves long hours, lots of standing, and having to pose for the camera all         day. · It can become boring and tiring depending on the job you are doing and how often you are needed. You can spend all day on a movie set and only shoot your scene for an hour.

How would you describe your personal style? Nibedita: That’s a great question! Thanks for caring about my style. I’d definitely say   that the best way to describe my personal style is: versatile. I hate conforming to a specific style because I’m always open to stepping out of my comfort zone and switching up my looks. I have so many different pieces in my wardrobe and I love mixing and matching to create different outfits with some of the same pieces. I can’t say that I chose to adopt a versatile style, because I’m naturally attracted to various looks and concepts. Instead, I choose not only to wear things with looks that are restricting or that fit under a specific umbrella, such as preppy, rebel, chic etc. I have rocked everything from combat boots and studs to floral print and leather. I have a weakness for loafers, leather, floral, blazers, booties, kicks and satchels. I shop at various retailers that offer quality for affordable prices. But, of course, sometimes I splurge on things that I absolutely can’t live without. What’s your workout routine like these days? Nibedita: This is what this week looked like: · Mon: high intensity interval training · Tues: morning hike · Wed: Lagree (aka Pilates on a machine) · Thurs: hot yoga · Fri: high intensity interval training. · Sat: hike · Sun: vinyasa flow yoga (or, couch time).

Your favorite fashion designers? Nibedita: From being a costume designer back in the 90s to the most sought-after stylist and designer of today’s day and age– Manish Malhotra, the beloved Bollywood designer, has come a long way. Every intricate detail brought forth from the creative mind speaks volumes on how his intuitive talents and skills connected with the desi mems of the nation. London born, Manish Malhotra paid it back to society, a circle that gave him the much-needed impetus to doll up ‘brides’ across the nation. But wait, he hasn’t stopped at that, our Bollywood stalwarts and international celebs have made a beeline for his creations too, men included. And your fashion icons? Nibedita: Kate Moss launched her modeling career in the late 1980s, the wafer-thin girl from London didn't fit the mold of the superstars who came before her; tall, curvaceous and elegant women like Christy Turlington, Linda Evangelista and Naomi Campbell. In a way, Moss's childlike "heroin chic" look, which was immortalized in a topless Calvin Klein advertisement when she was just 19, marked the end of the "supermodel era" and the renaissance of '90s grunge. What is your goal as a model? Nibedita: I want to get more specific about the type of modeling work I’d like to do, and more specifically, what I'll be able to do. Perhaps I have always wanted to be a top fashion model, but the "look" is more commercial in nature. This is an especially important goal.