Nandana for CHANEL S/S 27
Nandana was 15, wandering through the summer crowds of the CNE with family friends, when a face she had never seen before stopped her, handed her a business card, and asked a question that would quietly change the course of her life: had she ever considered modeling? That night, she went home and googled Want Management. She had no experience, had never walked a runway, and came from an immigrant family unsure where such an unconventional dream could lead. But somewhere inside her, a small voice said try.
What followed were the years no one sees. Castings where she was the youngest in the room, feeling like an outsider looking in. Exams postponed for jobs, and jobs let go for exams. A first Paris Fashion Week spent alone in a foreign city, going from casting to casting by day and catching up on university lectures by night, waiting for calls that never came. There were moments she wondered whether she belonged there at all. But she stayed, held up by the voices of the people who believed in her when she couldn’t quite believe in herself.
And then, the dream arrived. Her very first runway show would be for Chanel. In this exclusive interview with Models of Canada, Nandana shares her journey authentically, from the rejections that tested her and the family, friends and agent who carried her through, to the moment she stepped onto the Chanel runway and realized every hard day had been leading her there.
Models of Canada: You were scouted at 15. Walk us through that moment. What did you think was happening, and how did your family react?
Nandana: I was scouted at the Canadian National Exhibition, the CNE, when I was 15. I was just out enjoying the day with some family friends when Sean approached me, handed me his card, and asked if I had ever considered modeling.
At first, I didn't take it too seriously because modeling was never something I had pictured myself doing. But at the same time, I was really excited; I'd always heard those stories about models getting discovered just walking down the street, and I never imagined something like that would actually happen to me. When I got home, the first thing I did was Google Want Management, and after looking into it, I knew I had to at least give it a shot.
My family, on the other hand, was a little more skeptical. Coming from an immigrant family, modeling wasn't exactly a traditional career path, and they weren't sure how far it could really take me. I was also only 15, so naturally, they were concerned about the industry itself, how it might affect me at such a young age, and especially how I would balance it with my education.
So there was definitely a mix of excitement and uncertainty in the beginning, but I think that's what made the whole experience even more memorable.
Models of Canada: Being so young, what did you have to figure out on your own in those early years that nobody warned you about?
Nandana: One of the biggest challenges for me was learning to balance school and modeling. I focused on maintaining a high GPA while also attending castings, going to shoots, and building my career. And as much as I tried to make both work, there were definitely times when I had to sacrifice one for the other. Sometimes that meant having to postpone an exam I had spent days preparing for, and other times it meant turning down a really good modeling opportunity because of school.
I think what made it so difficult was that I genuinely cared about both equally. My education and my modeling career were, and still are, equally important to me. So having to constantly decide which one to prioritize was something I really struggled with. Another thing I wasn't prepared for was how intimidating it could be to be one of the youngest people in the room. I came into this industry with absolutely no experience or knowledge of how things worked, and suddenly I was surrounded by older, more experienced models who seemed like they knew exactly what they were doing. There were definitely moments when I felt like an outsider looking in, just trying to figure everything out as I went. But I think the biggest lesson I had to learn, and something I really wish someone had told me earlier, was how important it is to advocate for yourself.
When you're young and surrounded by people who have been in the industry much longer than you, it's easy to feel like you should just stay quiet and go along with everything because they know better. It took me some time to realize that just because I was the youngest or the least experienced person in the room didn't mean my opinions or concerns mattered any less. I had to learn that I deserved to have a voice in the room, even when I was still learning how everything worked. And I think that's something modeling has taught me that goes far beyond the industry itself.
Models of Canada: Before Chanel, there were years most people never saw. What did the castings, rejections, and long days really look like for you?
Nandana: I think something people don't always realize about modeling is how much work goes on behind the scenes, especially when you're just starting.
As I mentioned before, I came into this industry with absolutely no experience. I didn't even know how to walk on the runway. At the time, I was only doing jobs in Canada, and honestly, I never imagined that modeling could take me internationally, let alone to a runway like Chanel.
I think castings were probably one of the most intimidating parts for me. You're walking into a room filled with all these beautiful, extraordinary models, many of whom have so much more experience than you, and I remember just looking around and thinking to myself, "What did I just get myself into?" Especially in the beginning, it was really easy to compare myself to everyone else and feel like I didn't quite belong there.
And of course, there's also the rejection that comes with modeling. You can go to so many castings, put yourself out there, and still not get selected for the job. I think that's something that takes a while to get used to, especially when you're young and still trying to build your confidence. It took me a while to build that confidence and truly believe that I had just as much of a shot as anyone else in that room.
And I think that's probably the biggest thing those early years taught me. You have to believe in yourself, even when you're still figuring things out, because if you don't give yourself a chance, you'll never know how far you could go. Looking back now, I'm really grateful for those experiences because I think they prepared me for opportunities I never would've imagined having when I first started.
Models of Canada: Was there a point when you thought about walking away? What kept you going?
Nandana: There actually was, and it was during my first Paris Fashion Week.
It was my first time traveling alone, and on top of that, it was right in the middle of the school year. I was trying to keep up with my university classes while also going to castings throughout the day, and honestly, it was a lot harder than I expected. Most of my days looked pretty much the same. I'd wake up, go to multiple castings throughout the day, come home, catch up on missed lectures, work on assignments, go to sleep, and then wake up and do it all over again.
And I think what made it even harder was that I was in a completely different country where I didn't really know anyone. There were definitely moments when I felt really lonely.
I'd spend entire days going from casting to casting, putting myself out there, and then not hearing back from any of them. After a while, it started to feel like I was putting in all this effort without really getting anywhere. I remember getting to a point where I genuinely started questioning what I was doing there and whether it was even worth staying. But I think what really kept me going was my family, my friends, and Sean from my agency. They've all been such a huge support system for me, and honestly, I don't think I could've gotten through that experience without them.
I would call my family and friends pretty much every day, sometimes just to talk about how my day went or to hear a familiar voice. And Sean was also a really big source of support throughout that time. Having someone at my agency who I could turn to, especially when I was feeling discouraged, meant a lot. I think having people who believed in me, especially during the moments when I was struggling to believe in myself, made all the difference. And looking back, I'm really glad I didn't give up, because I would've never known what was waiting for me if I had gone home.
“Nandana is a prime example of someone who has managed to balance both school and modelling with grace. What people don’t see is all the effort, trust, and confidence that was built from when she was a teenager that led us to this point. I am very proud of you, Nandana, and I am grateful for you and your family’s trust.”
- Sean Penhall, Want Management
Models of Canada: What sacrifices did it take, personally or with your family, school, or friendships, to keep chasing this career?
Nandana: I think one of the biggest sacrifices has definitely been missing out on a lot of the normal experiences that come with being a teenager and now a university student. I've missed family events, birthdays, get-togethers, and even just the little things, like spontaneously going out with friends or making plans without having to check my schedule first. And especially being in university, I feel like there's this whole "uni life" that everyone talks about, where you're going out, meeting new people, making memories, and just enjoying being young. And while I do get to experience some of that, I definitely feel like I've missed out on a lot of it.
Sometimes it's hard seeing your friends making plans or everyone getting together while you're away for work. And I think that's something people don't always consider when they look at modeling from the outside. But I think beyond missing out on those experiences, one of the biggest challenges for me personally has been the pressure I put on myself.
I've always been someone who takes failure really personally, and I think that made certain moments in my modeling career a lot harder than they needed to be. I remember during Fashion Week, I had this idea in my head that if I didn't book even one show, then I had failed. And it wasn't just about disappointing myself. I had so many people back home rooting for me: my family, my friends, and everyone who had supported me throughout this journey. I felt like if I came home without getting selected, I would somehow be letting them down too.
Looking back, I realize that a lot of that pressure was something I created for myself. Nobody was telling me that I had to book a show to make them proud, but at the time, that's genuinely how I felt. And I think that's been one of the biggest things I've had to learn: that my success isn't defined by one casting, one job, or one Fashion Week.
Of course, I'm incredibly grateful for the opportunities I've had, and I wouldn't trade them for anything. But I think it's also important to acknowledge that pursuing something you love doesn't mean it's always easy. There are definitely moments when I wish I could be in two places at once, or that I could enjoy certain experiences without feeling like I'm falling behind somewhere else. But at the end of the day, I don't regret the decisions I've made. I know I'm getting to experience things I never would've imagined for myself, and I think that's what makes those sacrifices worth it.
Models of Canada: When you finally walked for Chanel, what were you thinking about in that moment: the runway in front of you, or everything it took to get there?
Nandana: Honestly, surreal is probably the only word I can use to describe that experience.
Even when I first found out I was going to be walking for Chanel, I couldn't fully believe it. I remember feeling so overwhelmed with gratitude because, in that moment, it almost felt like every casting I hadn't booked, every rejection, and every difficult day had somehow led me to this opportunity.
The day of the show was just as busy and exciting as I had imagined, but something that really stood out to me was how incredibly kind and welcoming the entire Chanel team was.
From the makeup artists to the hairstylists, everyone was so lovely and made me feel comfortable throughout the whole experience. And I especially want to mention my stylist for the show, who was genuinely one of the kindest people I met backstage. She made sure I was okay every step of the way, and I think having someone like that looking out for me made the whole experience even more special.
I think people sometimes imagine backstage at a show like Chanel to be really intimidating, especially for someone like me who had never walked a runway show before. But the team created such a welcoming environment that I felt really supported. Even during rehearsals, it still hadn't fully sunk in that I was actually going to be walking for Chanel.
And then, when it was finally my turn to walk, I wasn't really thinking about the cameras or the audience. I was thinking about everything that had brought me to that moment. All the castings, the rejections, the days I questioned myself, and especially those moments during my first Paris Fashion Week when I genuinely considered giving up. I remember thinking, "This is what I've been working towards all this time." And when I finally stepped off that runway, I was just overcome with so many emotions. I felt proud, grateful, relieved, and honestly, still a little in disbelief. I couldn't believe that I had just walked my very first runway show, and that it was for Chanel, of all brands. I think what made that moment so special wasn't just the fact that I had walked for Chanel, but knowing everything it had taken for me to get there. It's definitely a moment I'll carry with me for the rest of my life.
Models of Canada: For a young model just starting out, especially one coming from a background where this path isn’t common, what’s the honest advice you wish someone had given you at 15?
Nandana: I think the biggest piece of advice I would give my 15-year-old self is that there are always going to be people who have opinions about what you should and shouldn't do with your life, especially when it comes to your career. And I think that's something I had to learn pretty early on, especially coming from a background where modeling isn't exactly considered a traditional career path.
When you're young, it's really easy to assume that because someone is older or has more experience than you, they automatically know what's best for you. And while I think it's incredibly important to listen to advice and learn from the people around you, I've also learned that not every piece of advice is necessarily meant for you. At the end of the day, you're the one who has to live with the decisions you make, and I think it's important to trust yourself enough to figure out what feels right for you.
That doesn't mean ignoring the people who care about you or thinking you know everything at 15, because you definitely don't! But I think there's a difference between listening to someone's advice and letting their opinions completely determine the direction of your life. I wish someone had told me earlier that it's okay to take what resonates with you and leave behind what doesn't.
And especially for young girls coming from backgrounds where pursuing something like modeling might seem unconventional, I think it's important to remember that just because the people around you haven't taken a certain path doesn't mean it's not a path worth exploring.
You don't have to have everything figured out at 15. I certainly didn't. But you should give yourself the opportunity to discover what you're capable of, rather than letting other people's expectations decide that for you.
Written by: Models of Canada
See more of Nandana at WantManagement.com