Having created a buzz last year during the Miss India 2015 contest, 21-year-old model Pranati Rai Prakash, recently won the title of India’s Next Top Model 2016 in the second season of MTV’s popular reality show. Receiving “Miss Fashion Icon”, “Miss Talented”, and “Miss Beautiful Legs” titles in the series, she was described as one of the sweetest girls among the lot by the jury comprising fashion photographer Dabboo Ratnani, VJ Anusha Dandekar, supermodel and Bollywood actor Lisa Haydon along with Neeraj Gaba, the image consultant.
The Patna-born daughter of an Army officer, who grew up all over India talks about her experience at the show and what made her take up modelling.
Tell us about how you started.
I was born in Patna in an Army officer’s family. Admitted to an Army school, I was trained hard and pushed to serve the country. It was a disciplined upbringing. My father was and till date very conservative and protective doesn’t like me wearing short clothes. But my parents never discouraged me of what I wanted to pursue; my family was always supportive. The fashion industry was something I was attracted to. I can still recall when as a nine-year-old watching a television ad featuring a model walking on the ramp I told my mother, ‘I am going to be there one day.’
Share your experience at the India’s Next Top Model
Just being selected at that time, was huge for me. You have an entire team working on you, giving you a different avatar every day. From different attires to different hair colour to different hair-style, the show helps you feel confident, and makes you believe in yourself. Winning the show wasn’t an easy task, it was like a roller coaster with its own high and lows. I faced an elimination round as well. It gets really intense. But in the end, all’s well that ends well.
How was your equation with other contestants?
Everyone on the show had different qualities that got them there in the first place. The overall feel was like that of a boarding school, where you live together, work together and eat together. You share all the moments of happiness and there is a flood of emotions when you see a dear one depart from the show. Even though eyeing for the same title, we were always there for each other. You definitely get attached to some people more than the others. I could confide in Akansha. She would always be there. Poulomi was also a sweetheart. Her funny Bengali accent and sense of humour could cheer you up even at your lowest.
Tell us about the judges
Each of them had a different perspective, a different angle. When it came to the tasks, they knew exactly what they wanted and how they wanted.
Lisa Haydon, being an acclaimed Bollywood actor and a supermodel herself, was always impartial. With her in-depth knowledge about the working of showbiz, she would often share her personal insights and professional experiences with us. Dabboo sir being the ace photographer of the industry, adjudged on the basis of his artistic sense bringing out the best side of every participant. Then there was Anusha, a great artist herself was like a mentor to us, along with Gaba, who supervised the grooming sessions and brought the best out of us.
How would you describe fashion?
Fashion to me is not only limited to clothes. It is a statement that you make, a personality that you create for yourself, the way you carry and present yourself. As far as clothes go, the trends today are short-lived. Wear anything that you deem fit for yourself. A pair of jeans paired with a casual top, worn and carried properly, can turn heads too.
Is there a side of you that people still don’t know?
I am tomboy and talk like a boy, ‘main khaunga’, ‘main jaunga’. Out in public, I have to literally censor myself!
