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"As a young kid I had these ideas about what models should be and a lot of things go to your head. And those rejections would make me feel, 'Am I too small?' 'Am I not pretty enough?' All these things take a toll on your confidence and these rejections as a teenager are very disappointing."
Alicia Kom, a Melbourne girl who made her LFW debut last year, talks about the struggles in her modelling career and how she made it despite 45 rejections in three years.
Photograph: Alicia Kom/Facebook
How did you come to India?
Last June Anima Creative Management saw my pictures and asked me to come over. I took a leave, spoke to my parents and I came to India for three months.
But after three months I got booked for Lakme Fashion Week, which brought me back to India again and I continued to stay. I have been here for a year and a half now.
How did your parents react when you told them you were going to India?
At first, they weren't so happy but I had already decided for myself. They were just worried for me. They were always happy for me; they were always proud of what I did and supported me.
What were they worried about?
The country itself, because in Australia, unfortunately, we don't hear good things about India.
What are the bad things your folks heard about India there?
They hear about (sexual) attacks (on women) and terrorists but India is not that way at all.
So did you tell your folks in Melbourne about your impressions of India?
As soon as I landed here I got the Lotus Herbals campaign in the first week and everything just started flowing smoothly from there on. So, they could see how happy I was.
Have their impressions about India changed now?
Yeah...well... actually there are coming to India tomorrow to see me on the ramp.
So, they are no longer worried about terrorists attacks happening in India?
No... (laughs)... I showed them the real India through my 18 months in the country. They are also bringing my brother Christopher, 12, along with them. They are going to see me on the ramp for the first time ever. I am really very excited.
How did LFW happen to you and how was your debut like on the ramp?
Photograph: Alicia Kom/Facebook
I auditioned last July here in Mumbai. I studied till Grade II. I didn't want to do school and wanted to be a model after that. From then on I didn't really focus on school.
How was Alicia discovered?
When she (Alicia) was in Grade II and decided to be a model she was rejected 45 times before she got her first break. My efforts were pretty strong and I was confident that modelling was my thing and just went on and on with auditioning till I was discovered.
Despite 45 rejections you kept at it?
Yes. Finally, when I was 19 (she started auditioning when she was 16) I was selected by an agency in Melbourne and then on I did a TV show in Australia from where I was off to China for nine months in Beijing, Shanghai and Hong Kong.
When I went back to Australia my idea was to travel more for modelling and I worked my butt off for an year, saved lot of money, just in case, and I came to India on a holiday with a friend Adi Raj who suggested I take a chance doing modelling and took me to Anima Creative and I agreed.
I always had these instincts to come to India for work.
How did you overcome 45 rejections?
As a young kid I had these ideas about what models should be and a lot of things go to your head. And those rejections would make me feel, 'Am I too small?' 'Am I not pretty enough?' All these things take a toll on your confidence and these rejections as a teenager are very disappointing.
You keep blaming yourself for these rejections but I always kept telling myself that I was good enough and it was just a matter of time and opportunity which will set things right for me.
The passion of becoming a model was burning inside me and that kept egging me 'I have to do this'. I could imagine my future but it just wasn't happening. And then because I wanted it so badly, it just came flying to me one fine day. The tears of 45 rejections brought sunshine in my life.
What do you do when you are not modelling?
I actually have been working like a dog (laughs), to put it lightly.
But it is not showing on your face. You are glowing.
Thank you. I have, to be honest, has had just six weeks off in the last 18 months. I took three breaks and went to Melbourne during this time. Other than that I have been working whole time in India since I arrived.
I also had a semi-working holiday in London for two weeks or so.
Is money good for a foreign model in India?
Compared to Australian rates for models, I do actually get paid less. But because the work is so frequent in India it kind of balances what I would have earned in Australia. In Australia there is no regular work and the work there is not higher up work.
Why isn't there more work in Australia?
I think small population leads to lesser demand and a lot of people there save money, instead of spending it, to buy houses.
How do you keep fit?
Photograph: Alicia Kom/Instagram
I am vegan (Read why Alicia became a vegan, here). I don't eat any meat or dairy products and then I do a lot of workouts in between these busy schedules.
Being vegan helps to conserve lot of energy despite having a hectic day and that helps me keep fit. I don't feel tired after shows because of the food I eat.
Everybody thinks of modelling as a glamorous career option. What are the real struggles a model faces that others don't see?
Oh my god! It's not glamorous at all.
If you see me backstage... my hands in the air, my legs flying; you sometimes get shoes that are very tight; clothing that's restricting or you get pinned or there are wardrobe malfunctions... not only that... with all these difficulties it's very hard to stay in a pretty posture.
Not just on the ramp but also during photo shoots.
I hardly ever sleep these days...
But there are no dark circles around your eyes...
That's the (healthy effect of my) diet. It's not easy to look pretty when they put this random make-up which doesn't suit your face and do your hair randomly.
But you got to look comfortable when you are on the ramp or in front of the camera. And we are supposed to look the most beautiful girls in the world.
Your advice to aspiring models...
If you really, really love modelling, keep trying honestly. It is the best thing to happen in my life. It's taken me all around the world.
If you really have what it takes then just keep trying despite failures and rejections.
And Alicia what dance was that? I saw you going crazy on your feet sometime ago...
I am making those little video clips where everybody is dancing to just show people that models aren't that serious. We can be a little bit of fun.
See, what Alicia means by 'We can be a little bit of fun', here (external link).