Fashion has long borrowed from India, and acknowledging that influence is the first step toward repaying a long-overdue debt of recognition. The steady rise of Indian fashion models signals a long-overdue recognition by the global advertising industry—a seat at the table among fashion’s most influential players.

When I started to work as a fashion model, after being scouted in my second semester of college at Delhi University, the “slow death” of homogeneity and a “fast rise” of unique faces was already rapidly underway. It was the spring of hope—while actors were still heavily dominating magazine covers, the Indian fashion industry was having its renaissance moment in 2016. A handful of Indian-origin models were seen on the global runways, and back home, for talent like myself, a lot of exciting learning awaited. Over the years, after having worked with a multitude of big-name publications, designers, and brands, I quickly understood that models lend context to culture and, quite literally, give it a face.  I still find one common thread to persist—the need to show up, take space, and continue the conversation. If the buzz slows down, the hive loses momentum. In this metaphor, the bees are homegrown talent. Their visibility sustains the ecosystem.