Varsha
Agencies
Mother Agency (MA): CIOTTI Models
Answers to Q&A
What INSPIRED you to become a model?
I’ve always had an interest in visual arts and the fashion industry. My childhood consisted of creating my own paintings of people in outfits I designed and being excited for photo-day at school because that meant I could dress myself up. I was glued to my TV as a kid; I found myself enamoured by the way models would pose in music videos. Even now as an adult, I love dressing up for the occasion (even if the occasion isn’t going to be fun) and taking pictures of myself in different outfits.
Growing up, I received comments about how I should be a model. However, I never really saw any other Tamil girls modelling in mainstream media I consumed. Along with that, nobody I knew was in this field of work. As a student currently studying population health and biology, surrounded by people who are in STEM, I believed that this was my only career pathway for a long time. Nonetheless, the more I saw more diversity in media and people from similar backgrounds to me getting into modelling, the more I considered this pathway. Representation matters!
I began to research and apply to agencies. I was scouted by a couple and signed by one. Then, I decided to apply to Ciotti as I felt that I needed a change from my former agency. The agency’s transparency and efficiency really solidified my decision to go on this pathway. I felt very reassured and within a couple days of applying, Jarrett warmly welcomed me into the world of modelling!
What are you most excited about when it comes to modeling?
I'm excited to learn about the creative process behind being a model and unlocking another level of self expression. I’ve familiarized myself a bit with artistic creative pursuits, from being a nail tech to creating paintings using different mediums, I understand that behind every creative piece there is an adjacent uniquely creative process. I'm more than happy to push myself out of my comfort zone, although it can be admittably nerve wracking. I love that rush you get when you try something new.
Likewise with creative processes, I'm eager to meet more people in the industry and socialize with them! I feel that every person has their own story to tell and their own identity that can be explained through fashion and modelling campaigns. Fashion and modelling is definitely not surface level; I really want to see and understand the behind-the-scenes people who are a part of the modelling scene!
Can you share with us some advice you have for models wanting to get into the industry?
I am fairly new to the industry, so the majority of my advice comes from personal experience in how I problem-solve and navigate life on a daily basis.
Resilience is a key trait that was tested when I applied to agencies and had unexpected outcomes, good and bad. Trust that you are able to bounce back from adversity and taking circumstances as a learning lesson and proceeding to move forward was how I handle shortcomings. Rejection can be seen as redirection! Along with this, it's always good to put yourself out there and do things to increase your confidence. You should never be afraid to express yourself and stay to yourself.
share a fun fact about yourself!
I used to be a traditional bharathanatyam dancer. I danced for approximately 10 years, giving up the art as soon as I got into high school due to being busy with school. I’ve had experience performing in multiple places around my city. I will definitely pick it up again sometime in the future!