Modelling has not been ever seen as an easy profession. It comes with lots of challenges and chaos to handle in life. But a 19 years old girl decided to face them all to make her space in the industry. Shalu Ojha, 23 years old, has a struggling yet beautiful journey of becoming a model in the fashion industry.
Born and Brought Up
Shalu was born on 29th December 1997 in Baroda, Gujrat. Born and brought up in a middle-class brahmin family she has always been quite a bright and cheerful girl always. Her father Mr Bhanu Pratap Ojha runs an interior design business in Gujarat and her mother Usha Ojha is a homemaker. Shalu completed her 12th and joined a course in Cabin Crew as she was inspired to become an Airhostess. She loves to travel, listening to music, exploring new things etc. She is an avid learner and tries to learn from everyone and everything that makes up experience in her life.
Commencement of the Journey
Modelling was not on her goal list. It was never in her mind. She wanted to complete her course and become an Airhostess. But destiny always has its own plans.
Her journey started when she was advised by one of the fashion coordinators to take part in “Gujrat Central“. She wasn’t sure and didn’t wish to get into this. But her friends motivated her and she participated in Gujrat Central. A young girl who had no idea of this industry was reluctant to go for a pageant one day, but soon she started liking her work.
To prove herself as a great model with dusky beauty, she participated in Femina Miss India and MTV India’s Next Model 2018. She was one of the state finalists for Femina Miss India-2017. This brought in more confidence within her and she continued her journey as a Model.
Journey Continues
The journey towards her new destination went ongoing. She did 100+ projects for print, Jewellery, modelling; ramp walks for many prestigious brands including Raymond. Her journey as a model has never been that easy as one would expect it to be.
Struggle to Become a Model
Entering into the fashion industry Modelling has never been easy. Especially when you are young and novice to the industry, just like how Shalu had to face various challenges to reach where she’s today.
She has been criticised for her dusky skin tone and has faced lots of challenges due to that. Being a novice to the industry she had no idea how to represent herself. She had to learn a lot about modelling, representing herself, walk on-ramps, body language, expressions etc.
The industry is so vast that meeting fraud people comes quite easily. Being a model who is not from a Metro City but from Gujarat, she had to face challenges of working for 20-21 hours a day, regular shoots and travel has been one of the major challenges on her journey.
Future Outlook
Despite various challenges on her journey, Shalu decides to go on and inspires becoming a famous model one day. She looks forward to working for a brand like Sabya Saachi. She is highly motivated by her role models Kangana Ranaut and Priyanka Chopra for their bold and beautiful personality. She is also inspired by Lisa Hayden as a model of dusky tone but super good as an actress and model.
She always looks forward to helping more and more newcomers in the industry with her experiences. As she started from scratch, she wishes other people to not face as many challenges as she had faced. She always keeps her social media updated with various such posts which can help new people who wish to enter the industry. Despite having bad experiences while helping some newcomers, she doesn’t want to stop herself from helping more of them.
Her Message for all
No journey is an easy journey. Your experiences and challenges will be different from others. But never give up. Always walk with precautions wherever possible and you will succeed one day.
If you are an inspiring model always make sure to have a background check of the client or fashion/talent house you work with. Never work for free even if you are a newcomer. Try to enter into collaborations than working for free for anyone. You will surely succeed one day if you just keep walking with faith in yourself.
So this was all about Shalu, a highly motivated, young, beautiful model who looks forward to becoming a famous model one day. We send lots of good wishes to her for success.
