Asian Americans in Modeling: The Price to Pay

Artwork by Kristy Sorochan

The new generation of Asian American models have been using their platforms to uplift their communities.

 In 2022, R’Bonney Gabriel, a young Filipina woman, won the title of Miss Texas USA. After winning the title, Gabriel began using her pageant knowledge to run her own sewing class for women who have survived human trafficking and domestic violence. Neelam Gill, a Punjabi model, actively speaks out against the tokenization of people of color within the modeling industry. In an interview with Amuse, Gill stated that “ [Modeling] campaigns should recognize the world we live in.”

Hear Our Voices Magazine interviewed Indian American model Sarina Mahapatra about her experience as an Asian American in the modeling industry. Sarina is 18 years old and is signed with the agency Next. She has plans to travel around the world to model, and has already modeled in Milan and New York. 

HOV:

Okay, first question. How does modeling empower you?

Sarina:

[It’s] really nice for my younger self because as an Indian girl, growing up, 10-15 years ago, there were no Indian girls that you saw in magazines, on billboards, and even now, there are very few Indian girls. I feel like I’m…a piece of representation for other Indian girls so that hopefully they can see that being Indian is beautiful. I think it’s really hard right now where it’s the modeling industry that sets the beauty standards in society right now. But when the models are literally just white girls, a certain image of a girl, then girls who don’t look like that think, “oh, I must not be beautiful. I hope that other girls feel beautiful. They are part of society and the beauty standard, too.

HOV:

What are some examples of the campaigns and projects that you’ve done?

Sarina:

I did something for Just Cavalli, the big high fashion house. They started a youth line for teens, a more grungy, relatable line. And in the past, if you look at the models, they always are white. They also look a certain way with their body and everything. But it was really cool because I was like… I’m a teen, and I could be part of this new grungy, progressive, newer line. So that was really cool to be a part of, especially in such a huge house. I did one for Louis Jeans, which was a big comeback show. They’re a Dutch brand, and in the past, a lot of their models have been white models, very blonde, blue eyes. But this show had tons of people, but I was still the only Indian girl. And normally I feel taken aback by that, but actually, it’s empowering to be like, oh, wow, I’m the one representing girls like me. I’m representing the Indian girl here. The little girl watching this. I’m her in the future.

HOV:

What is it like working in a job that combat stereotypes about South Asian youth, for example, being super awkward and nerdy, et cetera?

Sarina:

I’ve noticed in the New York market, people are a lot more aware of the untruthfulness of stereotypes.. They don’t really make weird comments. But I’ve noticed that in Milan, because I was there for a month and I’m going back here again, people make really out of pocket comments, and people are like, “Let me try and guess your race,” or “I can’t believe you model.” And people ask, “Are your parents okay with this?” “Is this okay with your culture?” I say that they’re okay. People make assumptions about you based on your culture. So I feel like I have to have thick skin, but also go the extra step to explain, like, no, not all South Asians are nerdy people who can’t model. And it’s also nice because I did get into the college that I wanted to, and I made the choice to take a gap year and model for now, and I explained that to people. First they’re taking their comments back, but then they’re like “oh, wow, that’s really cool. I didn’t realize.” They’re almost apologetic, but also in shock, which is a little interesting.

HOV:

Do you feel like you’ve ever been discriminated against in the modeling world?

Sarina:

I mean, I’m sure definitely, because the thing that’s hard, too, is, like, you walked into a cast thing, and I’ve walked into casting before, and cast members look at me and they’re just like,”Thanks but no.” 

And I’m sure there’s tons of reasons why they say no, but at the end of the day, my agent tells me this all the time. They’re Looking for a certain look, and sometimes that look is not an Indian girl, and I can’t change that. I can’t change my race, I can’t change skin color or anything. . Like, the reason why I may get another job iis because I’m South Asian and the other girls aren’t. But it’s hard. I have noticed that the industry is getting a little bit better, but it still is hard to be like, oh, wow, maybe if I wasn’t Indian, I could have gotten that job. it’s hard to just keep telling yourself it’s not a personal thing and try to remind yourself. I mean, I talked to other girls about it too, and they say that it’s hard to tell yourself it’s not personal when it literally is about something personal. It’s your ethnicity, it’s your race. That is a very personal thing.

HOV:

Have you met a lot of other Asian models?

Sarina:

No, actually, I met one other Indian model with my agency, and she’s in a different market from me completely, so I met her once. It was really funny. Our agent had us meet because we were Indian, and that was the only reason why she had us meet which was kind of interesting. You guys should meet because you are Indian. I was like, okay. And other than that, I met a few models who are Thai, but I’ve actually never met another Indian model working in the industry.

HOV:

What has it been like traveling and being immersed in other cultures, such as in Italy?

Sarina:

Honestly it makes you grow so much.  It’s so crazy. I just graduated high school three months ago, and now I have lived in a different country. Going somewhere where the culture is so different, where there’s a completely different language, the market is so much different. Being 18, living alone, so much is unknown. It’s really crazy because I used to be a super scheduled person, and I get my schedule now the night before.  But I think it makes you grow a lot, and also it makes you realize how independent you are. I realize how much I can do alone. I don’t always need someone to be with me. I don’t need to travel with someone all the time. So you grow up a lot. And I think it also helped me kind of feel more in touch with myself and realize what I need. And also realize, too, when something seems off, if I’m going into a job, and let’s say the whole environment is just weird and the casting director is weird, I have been more confident in saying “no, this isn’t okay.”

HOV:

What are the best and worst parts of modeling?

Sarina:

Best parts? The people you meet. You do meet really bad people, but you also meet really great people. And everyone is so different. Everyone’s story is so different. Everyone’s culture is so different because you’re getting girls and guys and everyone from all over with completely different backgrounds, and then you’re all meeting. I have friends now from all over the world who I can talk to, and they have such different experiences. And I think also, in the creative aspect, I never really realized how much creative energy goes into making a design or making a piece of clothing. And then you go behind the scenes and you talk to the stylist or you talk to the designer or the photographer, and you realize how much goes into making a piece of clothing, a piece of art. And being a part of that is really cool. And to see the meaning because a piece of clothing, even if it’s something as simple as the color of a small piece of patchwork, has the biggest meaning to a designer.I think the worst part, though, is that your job is based on your appearance, which is hard because half the time, you can’t change your appearance. Usually a lot of it is genetic, and you can’t always change your height or you can’t change your weight or your measurements, and you’re constantly comparing yourself to others. I try not to compare myself, but it’s hard when you walk into a casting call, and you see a room full of girls, and they all are holding a card up with measurements. How are you not supposed to look? Or when your friend gets a job and you didn’t get that job, then you start thinking, oh, well, why didn’t I get it? So it’s hard, but you have to learn. You have to have thick skin, and it’s not personal. I just tell myself all the time, it’s not personal. It’s not me. And if someone doesn’t want you for the job, then it just wasn’t meant to be, I guess.

HOV:

What advice do you have for young Asian Americans looking to push the needle forward towards a more inclusive future?

Sarina:

I would say just whatever you want to do, just do it. And if an opportunity comes up just take it. I was really hesitant at first to do modeling full time because I had a very strict path in my head, and I also didn’t know anyone else who had gone down the path I’m taking now. I knew no one else who had modeled before, and I also didn’t know of any other South Asian women who were successful models. There’s one, Neelam Gill, who you guys should definitely check out. I love her, and she’s another Indian woman, and she talks about South Asian representation in the industry, too. I went down this path, and it was hard at first, and it still is hard, but I’m really happy I did. And I’m also hoping that I can keep following a passion of mine, which is making sure more South Asian models have representation in the industry. So I would say just do it if you want to, if you’re interested in it. And even if it’s not modeling, even if it’s like you want to start a podcast or you want to start, or a clothing line or just try it, because the worst that will happen is it doesn’t work out.  There’s so many other directions you can go right now, especially in the generation we live in.

Sarina Mahapatra is paving the way to make the modeling industry more inclusive to young Asian-Americans. She will serve as an inspiration to children wanting to grow up to become models.