I was supposed to go to University this year, but instead, I’m modeling full time… Honestly, I didn’t think anything would happen with modeling, so I took a [year off] school just to see how it would go. But now, I’ve gotten so busy that I’ve had to defer.
I didn’t think I could be a model! I had glasses and braces. I was not one of the hot girls in school. I was scouted when I was 14, but my parents said, «Okay, just stay in school and then do it before college.» I didn’t even tell people in high school that I was interested in modeling, or that I’d been scouted, because when people found out, they were like, «What? Her?!» There was a joke about me in school: «Oh, Neelam’s a model—she’s a foot model! Maybe she can be a hand model!» because nobody could believe anyone would want to [cast] me.
It’s usually cool, but sometimes I go through customs and it gets strange. They always ask, «why are you here?» I say, «modeling,» and then I see the campaign as I’m walking through [customs], and the officers say, «Oh, look, that’s you!» That’s weird.
Hopefully now that I’ve started working and doing really well, there will be more Indian models. But I just do as much as I can to raise awareness about diversity in the industry. And that’s why I’m so proud to get any job. It’s more of an achievement for me, I think, being the first Indian model to work for so many big brands.
I do feel pressure! I can’t lie. But it’s in a good way, because it motivates me to work harder. People don’t realize that although a lot of designers are open to diverse casting now, a lot of other ones just think it’s easier to use girls that look the same and have the same aesthetic. Some shows have line-ups that look like robots. They all have blonde hair and pale skin, and you can’t tell them apart. I don’t think people realize what I have to go through, and how much harder it is for me to get modeling jobs. But that just motivates me because when I get them, I get so much support.
Jourdan Dunn always gives me good advice. She’s become like a big sister to me, and she always looks out for me. This fashion season is my first time not being exclusive for Burberry, and I told Jourdan, «Look, I’m really nervous, I don’t know how [designers] are going to respond to me.» And Jourdan said, «You know, the industry is racist, but you have so many people behind you and you need to be positive. You’ve already done so well, and this issue is only going to get better.» And I feel so much better when people like her tell me things are going to be okay, because I see how well she’s done and I know I’m not alone.
[Kanye] gave me a pep talk about breaking boundaries and carrying on, and pulling through with my dreams. It meant a lot, because it was coming from someone whose music I listen to when I feel down. Believe it or not, before I went to the Adidas casting, I was listening to «Watch the Throne.» Then I walk in and he’s standing right there. I was like, «No!» It was meant to be.
