Modelspeak: Good sleep, balanced diet reflects on your skin

Bangalore-based model Surbhi Rao gets candid, talks about her first stint at Lakme, the challenges of being a model and how she copes with it.

Why do you think India needs feminism?

I think India as a country is very feminine. Whenever you talk about India, and its culture, it always talks about women and it's overwhelming. And with the right spirit there is no need for additional feminism in India.

What inspired you to become a model?

There were always people around me who encouraged me to become a model -- my family, friends, neighbours would tell me how tall I was and that I had pretty features and should give a shot at modelling.

I auditioned for Lakme upon the insistence of my friend and that's how I got through.

Tell us about your first modelling assignment...

Not just for me, it is the deepest honour for any model to walk for the biggest show in the country. I first walked for designer Swapnil Shinde. The energy and environment in the audience was electrifying.

Please share some beauty tips...

Just concentrate on the right diet, eat healthy, sleep on time, get enough sleep and you'll realise that most of the things like body weight and figure will be taken care of.

I personally don't endorse any beauty products. If you get good sleep and have a balanced diet, it will reflect on your skin.

What are the challenges of being a model? How do you handle it?

Being a model has high expectations. You need to be physically and mentally fit. Besides being presentable on the ramp, how well you present yourself behind the stage also matters. There is so much of chaos happening backstage. You need to be glamorous on the outer front, but there's a lot of action happening backstage -- a lot of hard work.

But all these experiences and challenges combined is what makes you a model.

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