Assam models shining in MTV

JANTEE HAZARIKA, 22

India's Next Top Model Season 2 contestant

Studied fashion designing at Vogue Institute of Fashion, Bengaluru

Syed: You’ve made it to the Top 10 contestants at India’s Next Top Model Season 2 on MTV. You have set a precedent. How does it feel ?

Jantee: I was working very hard to get into this. As a girl from the northeast it was a problem for me. Working so hard, being confident, I'm blessed by the elders with their support. "I'm in the top 10 and it makes me proud." My parents, cousins and friends are with me and are proud of me.

Syed:You studied fashion designing and ended up modelling yourself. Why?

Jantee: As a child I was more into studies and that's how I ended up studying fashion designing. It was during my fifth semester and as in all fashion designing schools we always had fashion shows. I modeled for my class fellows.

Same time around my mother called me asking me to audition for Miss Northeast Diva 2014. She was of the view that the whole experience will make me learn something. I was reluctant at first but later agreed with her. I went to Guwahati and groomed myself hard, gave the auditions and ultimately won the pageant. The same year I was among the top ten finalists at the Femina Miss India 2014 contest. I was adjudged Miss Fashion Icon and Miss Photogenic. Back in Bangaluru I resumed modelling again. I also featured in the March 2015 edition of Grazia.

Modelling just happened. "I like the ramp, the photoshoots and specially when people shower compliments." It is because of modelling that I'm proud of my skin more than before. I used to be very uncomfortable of my dusky complexion all through school and college. "People made fun of me and I began to feel that may be I actually wasn't good looking."

But after I began modelling, fashion photographers started complementing my dusky complexion. This however, became a turning point for my life and helped me overcome a number of hurdles.

"I think I'm happy modelling."

Syed: Do you think you have a great mileage over others for having studied fashion designing and then being a model yourself, understanding well the nuances of both the mediums?

Syed: Fashion designers make clothes for a model and here you are a model. Don't you think it is a good match?

Jantee: Yes, it does match somehow because whenever I go for a fashion photoshoot and there is styling going on and if there is something in my mind, I go ahead and suggest it to the photographer concerned. I think this helps me a lot. I suggest thinking what would go best if I was working on my model. My ideas are adopted.

Syed: How hard did you work for this season of India’s Next Top Model?

Jantee: Last season at INTP 1 there was Gloria Tep from Nagaland. It's good that INTP is focusing on girls from the northeast and I thought I should go audition for it. I shifted to Mumbai, saw the casting calls and went for the audition. I was a little bit on the healtheir side and in modelling lean, toned up looks are in demand. I went back home to Guwahati for the Bihu festivities. Ultimately, I did not receive a call and decided to try my luck come Season 2.

I genuinely started working out hard for as much as two hours a day and sometimes twice a day to tone up my body. Finally, when the second auditions for Season 2 came up, I participated. I spoke my heart out since I had nothing to fake about and I was selected.

The mentors are extremely helpful and supportive throughout, each one of them, whether its Lisa Haydon, Neeraj Gaba or Daboo Ratnani. I worked out hard to tone myself because of Lisa Haydon. She is a goddess. She is very gorgeous. When I see her in front of me, I just go numb. She is so stylish that everyday is like a fashion cover. I look at her clothes and think I wish I had the same clothes.

Syed: Who and what inspires you most?

Jantee: The one person that inspires me most is my mother. It's she who pushed me into modelling. She is very supportive, no matter what whether it be about reminding me of my photoshoot schedules or any minute matter. On the other hand having studied design, everytime I go out, I see things around me, I get inspired. I think of it, I write, even sketch and design.

Syed: Northeast has produced dozens of models and actors who made it pretty good in the national and international arena. Anybody among them you look up to?

Jantee: Moni Kangana Dutta. A number of people have compared me with her. Modelling was different during her time in 2007/2008. I heard she had issues over her complexion and hair. How she overcame all of that indeed inspires me. I look up to Dipannita Sharma also. She too is a gorgeous dusky woman. Being dusky, being born as one is not easy. These two women inspire me a lot.

Syed: What other things do you do apart from modelling?

Jantee: I'm a sporstperson. My mother always wished I was a boy. I play cricket.

If not modelling, I would have been designing or opened an NGO for animals because I  really do feel for them. I have two dogs, two cats at home and I'm gonna adopt more.

Syed: I hear you can handle big situations with ease. How would you exercise your confidence and patience during, God-forbid, an unfortunate disaster situation in Assam? Guwahati sits on Zone V you see.

Jantee: Yes, when it comes to me I'm a strong person but I don't think I'll be in my senses if a disaster hits Assam, because my family stays there. My family is scattered. My mother lives alone in Guwahati, my father works in Arunachal Pradesh and my sister lives in Morigaon. Every night I panic thinking of a predicament. What will happen, what will I do if an earthquake hits.

Whenever earthquake strikes Assam, my mother calls me telling that if she succumbs to it, I must take care of myself. Hundred many things come to my and I don't know how if at all, I'll come to terms with it in such a situation.

But if I'm with my parents, obviously I'll be very strong. I'll help them and the dogs downstairs someplace safe and do other things.

If I'm there with them, I'll be strong but if I'm far away, I'm gone.

Syed: Do you think that the personal and professional side to a person are one and the same thing? Yes/No & Why?

Jantee: No. Both are totally different. The conduct of a person in both the situations vary. In my case its so. I have seen people who wear the same cap and are the same in both their personal and professional lives. I am totally a different case. One might be utterly surprised to find my fun and realxed side at a personal level comapred to my professional behavior.

Syed:  What does Freedom of Speech mean to you?

Jantee: The ability to speak one's mind. To speak the truth.

Syed: How do you define success?

Jantee: Success is happiness. When one's parents are happy that's success.

Syed: What do you aim for in life?

Jantee: My first aim in life is to become a model in India. I'd like to go international given a chance. Secondly, I would want take the cause of animals further as I mentioned earlier which is a dream and an aim too. Once, I become a supermodel, I'll earn a lot of money. I'll buy land in acres for animals, for those abandoned, hurt and used in laboratories.

Syed: What's your favorite food item?

Jantee: Staple Assamese cuisine tops it all. This is what I have come to conclude after my stay in Bangalore. I also like dumplings like Momos, apparently all Indian street food not to forget the classical Biryani, the likes found in Hyderabad and ocassional continental spreads. But Assamese cuisine obviously come in first.

Jantee

RAJASHREE SINGHA, 21

India's Next Top Model Season 2 contestant

Final year student of Sociology at Mithibai College, Mumbai

Syed: Tell me something ‘bout yourself. Your childhood and your experience with modelling.

Rajashree: I was born in Guwahati and raised in Mumbai. I'm a fun loving person and studying Sociology at Mithibai College. I have also trained in Bharat Natyam for five years and other dance forms. Eversince, I was a kid I was interested in modelling.That's how I am at INTMS2 now in my final year of graduation. I started modelling about four months ago and now you see me on TV as one of the contestents.

Syed: What has been your experience with modelling at INTMS2 ?

Rajashree: It is a very different and amazing experience. I have learnt a lot here at INTM. It has given me a great exposure. People know me now and I've got a great fan following. You'll see me walking for Manish Malhotra show in the next episode that is coming up on Sunday July 24. He has complemeted me. He actually likes my features and would like to audition me for one of his shows. That's what he said.

Syed: What is that you think you have in you that got you where you are now at INTMS2?

Rajashree: I have a great passion for my career, the right attitude, I'm sensible with a positive outlook. That all helps me to grow better and better and that's what got me here.

Syed: How do you position yourself among the other contestants at the prestigious INTMS2?

Rajashree: Everyone is different in their own way. Everyone is beautiful in their own way. When it comes to me I have a beautiful body among the other contestants, a pale skin, oriental features. Since, I am passionate about my goal, I would do anything to win, the challenges in the show or anything.

Syed: How has been your fan following?

Rajashree: Anything that one wants doesn't come easy. Success is achieved by a lot of hard work and what one puts in, dedication towards one's goal, ability to accept and learn from one's experiences. The modelling industry offer different jobs everyday. I have worked with many different people. There are different kinds of personalities one meets, different types of photographers. One must be able to accept every personality type and not differ with photographers and try become overconfident in the process. That does not work in this industry. One must be confident about oneself and at the same time also comply with the vision of the photographer as well.

Syed: What is your aim in life? How have you set yourself 5 years down the line?

Rajashree: I want to be a supermodel. I want to go international and walk for the Milan Fashion Week. My wish since I was a teenager is to become Victoria's Secret Fashion Show model. I wish I get there.

Syed: What's your food craving?

Rajashree: That would be Chinese. I like Momo (dumplings) too. I like cooking and pasta al ajillo is my favorite. When I'm in the mood it'll be either Chinese or Italian.

 
Rajashree

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