23 Jaw-dropping Indian Supermodels Who Revolutionized the Fashion Industry

The global fashion stage is changing. A wave of talent from India has created an undeniable, lasting impact. This seismic shift is thanks to the pioneering spirit of phenomenal Indian supermodels who didn’t just walk the ramp; instead, they redefined it. These supermodels combined international trends with a fierce, unique Indian identity.

These models brought an oomph factor to the ramp. These beautiful ladies and handsome men have changed the beauty standard of modern society. They have put the country on the international map. 

So, get ready to look at the careers of the 25 iconic Indian supermodels, including trailblazers like Ujjwala Raut, Lakshmi Menon, and Rishi Robin. But before that, let’s know a bit of history about supermodels in India and where it all began.

Meet the 23 Indian Supermodels Changing the Face of Fashion Right Now

Ranking supermodels can be subjective, but it can be approached. Supermodels can be based on a combination of factors like global runway presence, brand campaigns, editorial visibility, industry impact, and social media following.

This ranking considers the career longevity, breakthrough moments on international runways, prominence in brand campaigns, editorial recognitions, and growing influence. Social media presence and crossover appeal into beauty campaigns also influence higher placements for some models in the list.

Rank	Name	Gender	Height	Brand Deals & Campaigns
1	Bhumika Arora	Female	1.80 m	Chanel, Fendi, Balmain, Vogue, Elle
2	Ujjwala Raut	Female	1.78 m	Victoria’s Secret, Yves Saint Laurent, Vogue
3	Radhika Nair	Female	1.77 m	Balenciaga, Prada, Chanel, Vogue
4	Pooja Mor	Female	1.75 m	Louis Vuitton, Givenchy, Dior, Vogue India
5	Lakshmi Menon	Female	1.8 m	Chanel, Givenchy, Stella McCartney, Vogue
6	Neelam Gill	Female	1.78 m	Burberry, British Vogue, Elle
7	Avanti Nagrath	Female	1.78 m	Versace Milan Fashion Week, Vogue India
8	Komal Gajjar	Female	1.73 m	IMG Models, Tim Walker, I-D Magazine
9	Ashley Radjarame	Female	1.71 m	Proenza Schouler, Michael Kors, Vogue
10	Nidhi Sunil	Female	1.73 m	L’Oréal, Forever 21, The Gap
11	Ravi Goswami	Male	1.87 m	Milan Fashion Week, European brands
12	Suraj Dhalia	Male	1.80 m	Vogue, GQ, fashion shows
13	Manu Bora	Male	1.86 m	Indian & international brand campaigns
14	Aishwarya Sushmita	Female	1.71 m	Kingfisher Calendar, Fitness and High Fashion Editorials, Magazine Covers, Luxury Campaigns
15	Rohit Khandelwal	Male	1.82 m	Various campaigns, Mr. World titleholder
16	Deepak Gupta	Male	1.86 m	Lakme Fashion Week, Indian and international campaigns
17	Dipti Sharma	Female	1.78 m	Vogue India, Harper’s Bazaar
18	Prateek Jain	Male	1.93 m	International brand endorsements
19	Vivek Dhiman	Male	1.87 m	Sabyasachi, Rohit Bal campaigns
20	Rachel Gupta	Female	1.77 m	International brand campaigns
21	Pratik Shetty	Male	1.90 m	Emerging brand campaigns
22	Neeraj Saini	Male	1.87 m	Dolce & Gabbana, Louis Vuitton
23	Ayushree Malik	Female	1.78 m	Sustainable/organic fashion brands

1. Bhumika Arora

• Height: 1.8 m
• Campaign: Pamella Roland, Neiman Marcus, MAC Cosmetics, Bobbi Brown.
• Runway Shows: Balmain, Marc Jacobs, Alexander Wang, Dries van Noten, Chanel, Fendi, Armani Prive, Bottega Veneta, Stella McCartney
• Magazine Covers/Editorials: Grazia Australia, Vogue India, ELLE UK, ELLE Croatia, Harper’s Bazaar India.

She is notable for beginning her global career later than many Indian supermodels. She made her international debut in 2014 and quickly became a runway star. She has walked for major fashion houses including Chanel, Balmain, Alexander Wang, and Marc Jacobs. Vogue India named her the “next Indian Supermodel.” She was also among the first few Indian models to be featured in Forbes Asia’s 30 Under 30 list.

2. Ujjwala Raut

• Height: 1.78 m
• Campaign: Yves Saint Laurent (face of), Dolce & Gabbana, Gap, H&M, Roberto Cavalli
• Runway Shows: Yves Saint-Laurent, Roberto Cavalli, Tom Ford, Gucci, Givenchy, Valentino, Oscar de la Renta, Emilio Pucci, and the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show (2002, 2003)
• Magazine Covers/Editorials: Vogue, L’Officiel, Cosmopolitan

Ujjwala Raut is the first supermodel of India. She won “Femina Look of the Year” in the 1996 Femina Miss India contest at age 17. She walked the runway for numerous global designers like Yves Saint-Laurent, Dolce & Gabbana, and Gucci. She was one of the first Indians to walk for the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show (2002 and 2003). She has also appeared in campaigns for brands like GAP and H&M.

3. Radhika Nair

• Height: 1.77 m
• Campaign: Chloé, Versus Versace, H&M X Erderm, Net-a-Porter, Vivienne Westwood, Maje, Mulberry
• Runway Shows: Balenciaga (exclusive debut), Burberry, Anna Sui, Belstaff, Chalayan, Mulberry, Paul Smith, Prabal Gurung, Tory Burch
• Magazine Covers/Editorials: Vogue (British, India), Elle (India)

Radhika was the first Indian woman to walk for Balenciaga. She debuted in their SS17 show as an exclusive. She has since walked for major houses like Burberry, Chloé, Miu Miu, and Marc Jacobs, and appeared in campaigns for brands such as Chloé, Versus Versace, and Vivienne Westwood. She has been featured on the cover of British Vogue, making her one of the influential Indian supermodels.

4. Pooja Mor

• Height: 1.75 m
• Campaign: Tory Burch, Banana Republic, H&M, Massimo Dutti, and Prabal Gurung
• Runway Shows: Louis Vuitton, Givenchy, Alexander McQueen, Stella McCartney, Dolce & Gabbana, and Elie Saab
• Magazine Covers/Editorials: Vogue Italia, Vogue Arabia, Vogue India, Numéro China, and Harper’s Bazaar India

Pooja Mor transitioned from an engineering background to a successful international modelling career. Her breakthrough came with her debut at the Louis Vuitton Cruise 2016 show. She has walked for top designers like Alexander McQueen, Givenchy, Dior, and Stella McCartney. She has appeared in campaigns for brands such as Burberry and Massimo Dutti. Since her debut, she has graced the covers of magazines like Vogue Italia and Harper’s Bazaar UK. 

5. Lakshmi Menon

• Height: 1.8 m
• Campaign: Hermès, Givenchy, Max Mara, H&M, Pirelli Calendar (2011)
• Runway Shows: Jean Paul Gaultier, Hermès, Chanel, Givenchy, Dolce & Gabbana, Carolina Herrera, Tom Ford, Jason Wu.
• Magazine Covers/Editorials: Vogue (American, French, Spanish, Indian), Harper’s Bazaar, Dazed & Confused, Elle 

Lakshmi Menon is a pioneer among Indian supermodels. She began her international career around 2006. She had her breakthrough when she was cast by Jean Paul Gaultier and later became a face for Hermès. She has also starred in campaigns for brands like Givenchy and Max Mara. She became the first Indian model featured in the Pirelli Calendar (2011). She has walked for numerous top designers and appeared in major international Vogue editions.

6. Neelam Gill

• Height: 1.78 m
• Campaign: Burberry, Abercrombie & Fitch, L’Oréal Paris x Balmain, Gap, Anthropologie, and Saks Fifth Avenue
• Runway Shows: Burberry, Kanye West (Yeezy), Dior, Prabal Gurung, Zimmermann, and Victoria’s Secret
• Magazine Covers/Editorials: Vogue Singapore, Elle UK, Marie Claire UK, Stylist, and Wonderland

Neelam Gill is known for being an industry “first.”  She became the first Indian supermodel to be featured in a Burberry campaign (2014) and the first British Indian face of L’Oréal Paris. She has also been the face of Abercrombie & Fitch. In her career, she walked the runway for designers like Dior and Kanye West’s Fashion Week Show. She was the first Punjabi supermodel to grace the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show (2024). Gill uses her platform to advocate for diversity.

7. Avanti Nagrath

• Height: 1.78 m
• Campaign: Swarovski, Brunello Cucinelli, Proenza Schouler White Label, Versace.
• Runway Shows: Versace (opened the show), Bottega Veneta, Hermès, Dior, Burberry, Ferragamo, Courrèges, Ralph Lauren, Dolce & Gabbana, Off-White, Etro
• Magazine Covers/Editorials: Harper’s Bazaar India, System Beauty

Avanti Nagrath is one of the youngest Indian supermodels on this list. She made history as the first Indian model to open a show for Versace at Milan Fashion Week (Fall/Winter 2022-23). Her career has featured runway appearances for major fashion houses. She has worked with big names like Dior, Hermès, Burberry, Jacquemus, Bottega Veneta, and Chanel. Nagrath has quickly become a prominent figure in the global fashion industry.

8. Komal Gajjar

• Height: 1.73 m
• Campaign: Shot for i-D magazine, Elle India, photographed by Arjun Mark
• Runway Shows: N/A
• Magazine Covers/Editorials: Elle magazine

Komal Gajjar was the first Indian model to be selected by IMG Models, who found her on Instagram. The international agency is famous for representing figures like Bella and Gigi Hadid. Komal has been featured on the cover of Elle magazine. Hailing from a small town in India, her journey to the global fashion industry is celebrated for breaking stereotypes. She is one of the most important Indian supermodels in 2025.

9. Ashley Radjarame

• Height: 1.71 m
• Campaign: Prada, Louis Vuitton, Ferragamo, H&M, Zara, Paul Smith
• Runway Shows: an exclusive for Prada (S/S 2020)
• Magazine Covers/Editorials: Vogue India, Vogue Czechoslovakia, Vogue Ukraine, Vogue Poland, Marie Claire France

Ashley Radjarame is a French fashion model of Tamil Indian heritage. She is prominently known for being a muse for major houses like Prada. She was ranked one of the “Top 50” models in the industry by models.com. Her career launched as an exclusive for Prada’s Spring/Summer 2020 show. Since then, she has walked for luxury brands including Louis Vuitton, Stella McCartney, Lanvin, and Jacquemus. She has been featured on the covers of Vogue India and other international editions.

10. Nidhi Sunil

• Height: 1.73 m
• Campaign: L’Oréal Paris Global Ambassador, Garnier, The Gap, Forever 21, and Esprit
• Runway Shows: Dior Pre-Fall 2023 Show, “Le Défilé Walk Your Worth” shows by L’Oréal Paris
• Magazine Covers/Editorials: Vogue (Indian and Italian editions), GQ, Harper’s Bazaar, Elle, Grazia, Verve

Nidhi Sunil is an environmental lawyer turned model and actress. She is recognized as the first Indian model to be appointed as a global ambassador for L’Oréal Paris. She was awarded Vogue India’s Model of the Year in 2021. She has worked for international publications like Italian Vogue. She is also an advocate and serves on the advisory board of the Invisible Girl Project. Besides modelling, she has appeared in films like Kaash (2015)

11. Ravi Goswami

• Height: 1.87 m
• Campaign: Puma, Raymonds, Rohit Bal, Giorgio Armani (FW 20/21 campaign), Delos
• Runway Shows: Giorgio Armani, Hugo, John Barritt, Neil Barrett, Dolce & Gabbana, Milan Fashion Week
• Magazine Covers/Editorials: GQ India (March ’22 issue), DA MAN Magazine, Factory Fanzine #08 Issue

Ravi Goswami is one of the few successful male Indian supermodels. Originally from Uttarakhand, he is known for his sharp looks, impressive curly hair, and has helped place India on the global fashion map. He is represented by international model agencies and has walked the ramp for major designers, including campaigns for brands like Hugo, John Barritt, Dirk Bikkembergs, Puma, and Giorgio Armani.

12. Suraj Dhalia

• Height: 1.80 m
• Campaign: Rohit Bal, Varun Bahl, and Manish Malhotra
• Runway Shows: India Fashion Week
• Magazine Covers/Editorials: Vogue India, GQ India

Suraj Dhalia is one of the most important Indian male supermodels. He is regarded as one of the best male models on the catwalk in India. He has worked with top Indian fashion designers, including Rohit Bal and Manish Malhotra. Suraj has been featured in major publications like Vogue India and GQ India. Originally from Jalandhar, he moved to Delhi to pursue his modelling career.

13. Manu Bora

• Height: 1.86 m
• Campaign: Raymond Made to Measure (Spring Summer 19), Raymond Campaigns, Louis Vuitton
• Runway Shows: Paris Fashion Week, Lakme Fashion Week, India Couture Week
• Magazine Covers/Editorials: VOGUE India, Vogue Hommes, Harper’s Bazaar Bali, “Where” Magazine, Red Collector

Manu Bora is a male model and a practicing orthopedic surgeon specializing in sports medicine. He is notable for successfully balancing two demanding careers. He was one of the first male Indian supermodels to walk the ramp at Paris Fashion Week. He has modelled for top designers like Sabyasachi, Tarun Tahiliani, and Rohit Bal. As a doctor, he is an expert in arthroscopic surgeries.

14. Aishwarya Sushmita

• Height: 1.71 m 
• Campaign: Rohit Bal, Anita Dongre, Manish Arora, Manish Malhotra, and Rahul Khanna
• Runway Shows: Lakmé Fashion Week, India Fashion Week, Blenders Pride Fashion Tour
• Magazine Covers/Editorials: Harper’s Bazaar Bride

Aishwarya Sushmita is an Indian actress and model from Bihar. She gained recognition after winning Kingfisher Calendar Supermodels 3 in 2016. She is also a trained dancer and a former national-level badminton player. She is also known for her roles in popular web series like Netflix’s Khakee: The Bihar Chapter (as Meeta Devi) and Disney+ Hotstar’s Special Ops 1.5.

15. Rohit Khandelwal

• Height: 1.82 m
• Campaign: NA
• Runway Shows: Lakmé Fashion Week Winter/Festive 2016, Delhi Times Fashion Week (DTFW), FACE OF FASHION WEEK International 2019
• Magazine Covers/Editorials: The Peacock Magazine, Times of India, GQ magazine

Rohit Khandelwal made history in 2016 by becoming the first-ever Indian and Asian to be crowned Mister World. Before this, he won the Mr. India 2015 title. Before modelling, he worked as a ground staff member for SpiceJet and a technical support assistant for Dell Computers. He has appeared in TV series like Yeh Hai Aashiqui and Million Dollar Girl.

16. Deepak Gupta

• Height: 1.86 m
• Campaign: Iceberg (Summer 2026 Collection Lookbook/Catalog), Zara, Amazon India, Westside
• Runway Shows: Louis Vuitton (FW25, SS26 Menswear), London Fashion Week, Emporio Armani (SS24, SS25)
• Magazine Covers/Editorials: Cosmopolitan India, Vogue, Zara

Deepak Gupta is an international Indian model from Mumbai. He gained significant attention after sharing his journey of being told he could “never be a Louis Vuitton model” to eventually walking the runway for the French luxury fashion house at Paris Fashion Week. He began his career after being scouted from his college fashion shows. And since then, he has walked for major brands like Emporio Armani, Burberry, and Louis Vuitton. He is also pursuing a bachelor’s degree in Information Technology.

17. Dipti Sharma

• Height: 1.78 m
• Campaign: Balenciaga
• Runway Shows: Balenciaga, Dolce & Gabbana, AKNVAS, Rachel Comey, SIXDO, Tibi, Batsheva, LaQuan Smith
• Magazine Covers/Editorials: Vogue India (Cover star), Harper’s Bazaar Russia, Crash, Grazia (Cover star)

Dipti Sharma is an Indian fashion model known for her international career. She debuted for Balenciaga’s S/S 2018 show. In her career, she has walked for designers like Dolce & Gabbana and Alexander Wang. Her campaigns include Balenciaga, and she has been featured in magazines like Vogue India and Harper’s Bazaar Russia.

18. Prateek Jain

• Height: 1.93 m
• Campaign: Sabyasachi, Provogue, MensXP Mister World India 2014
• Runway Shows: Lakme Fashion Week, Bridal India Fashion Week, Van Heusen India Men’s Week
• Magazine Covers/Editorials: MensXP, Times of India

Prateek Jain is famous for his pageant wins and runway presence. He won Provogue MensXP Mister World India 2014 and placed in the Top 10 at Mister World 2014. In 2015, he became the first Indian man to win the Asian Supermodel Contest. He has also walked in events like Lakme Fashion Week and Van Heusen India Men’s Week. He has also been featured in MensXP and The Times of India.

19. Vivek Dhiman

• Height: 1.87 m
• Campaign: Sabyasachi, Rohit Bal, Shantanu & Nikhil
• Runway Shows: Lakme Fashion Week
• Magazine Covers/Editorials: Vogue India, GQ India, and Elle India

Vivek Dhiman is named among the biggest male Indian supermodels who has been featured in major Indian fashion campaigns. He is noted for working with high-profile designers such as Sabyasachi and Rohit Bal. His editorial work has appeared in leading publications like Vogue India, GQ India, and Elle India. He is also known for his runway appearances at events like Lakme Fashion Week.

20. Rachel Gupta

• Height: 1.77 m
• Campaign: Miss Super Talent of the World 2022, Miss Grand India 2024, Miss Grand International 2024
• Runway Shows: Paris Fashion Week, Miss Grand International Events, Delhi Times Fashion Week 2025
• Magazine Covers/Editorials: Magnav Magazine

Rachel Gupta made history as the first Indian to win the Miss Grand International 2024 title, having previously won Miss Super Talent of the World 2022. Her reign as Miss Grand International was cut short in May 2025 when she resigned, citing a toxic environment and mistreatment, including body shaming. The Miss Grand International Organization, however, stated her title was terminated due to her failure to fulfill duties.

21. Pratik Shetty

• Height: 1.90 m
• Campaign: Alexander McQueen, Dunhill, Ralph Lauren, H&M (Linen Campaign)
• Runway Shows: Louis Vuitton (Pre-Fall 2022), Balmain, Todd Snyder, MSGM
• Magazine Covers/Editorials: Harper’s Bazaar India, Prestige Magazine, 5Eleven

Born and raised in Mumbai, Pratik Shetty burst onto the global fashion scene during the Spring/Summer 2020 shows. He has walked for major fashion houses, including Alexander McQueen, Fendi, Loewe, and Hermès, and has appeared in campaigns for brands like Ralph Lauren and Dunhill. He is represented by top agencies worldwide, cementing his status as a successful international model from India.

22. Neeraj Saini

• Height: 1.87 m
• Campaign: Bergdorf Goodman (Lookbook/Catalog), Mytheresa x Marni, Harvey Nichols Festive Campaign 2022
• Runway Shows: Dolce & Gabbana, Ahluwalia, Sergio Hudson, Milan Fashion Week, Paris Fashion Week
• Magazine Covers/Editorials: The Financial Times – HTSI Magazine, Men’s Folio Malaysia, Hindustan Times Brunch, Telegraph Luxury

Neeraj Saini gained international recognition by working with major global agencies. He was featured in campaigns and editorials for high-end clients like Bergdorf Goodman and Harvey Nichols. He has walked for designers at international fashion weeks, including Paris and Milan. Neeraj has been recognized among the top Indian supermodels.

23. Ayushree Malik 

• Height: 1.78 m
• Campaign: Miss Diva Supranational 2025, Miss Supranational 2025, Femina Miss India 2024, 
• Runway Shows: Miss Supranational 2025
• Magazine Covers/Editorials: No specific magazine covers

Ayushree Malik was crowned Miss Supranational India 2025 at the Miss Diva 2024 competition. She went on to represent India at the Miss Supranational 2025 pageant in Poland. In those competitions, she secured a spot in the Top 24 finalists and won the Supra Chat challenge. Her platform is an initiative called “Brave Hearts” to support accident survivors and their families.

Now that you know the top 23 supermodels in India, let’s talk about where it all began. 

What is the history of Modelling in India? An Overview

The concept of the “Indian Supermodels” largely emerged during a period of significant change in India. It came into popularity during the late 1980s through the 1990s. But there were a few pioneering figures who set the stage by breaking conventions and gaining significant exposure. 

Shyamoli Varma is often cited as India’s first supermodel, as she became the first Lakmé girl after signing a deal with the brand in the 70s. She later gained international recognition by modelling in Paris for legendary fashion houses. She worked with Pierre Cardin, Yves Saint Laurent, and Chanel, a rare achievement for an Indian model at the time.

The 1990s marked the “Golden Era” for the Indian supermodels. It was the time of economic liberation that allowed international brands to enter the Indian market. And this entrance brought in a new era of the fashion industry.

It was also the period when India gave world beauty pageant winners like Mehr Jesia. The 90s also had a prominent class of male supermodels who became household names, such as Milind Soman, Arjun Rampal, and Rahul Dev.

Now that we have covered the past, let’s take a look at the future.

Opportunities and Challenges of being Indian Supermodels in 2025.

According to IBEF (Indian Brand Equity Foundation), the Indian apparel market is projected to grow from approximately USD 102 billion in 2025 to over $ 146.3 billion (approximately ₹12.14 lakh crore) by 2032 by 2032, with a CAGR of around 4% for the next decade.

The segment for women’s fashion, which heavily features supermodels and runway presentations, is especially robust, representing more than USD 53 billion in annual revenue.

Social media and e-commerce growth offer Indian models a direct platform to build a personal brand and reach a worldwide audience. Furthermore, there has been a rising demand for models representing different skin tones and body types. Models who align with the growing sustainable and fusion wear trends will find a strong market.

Despite progress, significant challenges remain for Indian supermodels, particularly on the international stage. Colorism still exists within the Indian fashion market, often favouring lighter skin tones over darker ones. Indian models also struggle for equitable representation and pay compared to their Western peers in global campaigns.

The industry demands constant “newness,” making a long-term, stable career harder to secure. Finally, the local modelling scene faces issues like underpayment and lack of respect, putting financial pressure on models.

Indian Supermodels in Bollywood and beyond

Many supermodels have long been a celebrated presence on both the national and international stage. The transition from the runway to the silver screen is a common and highly successful trajectory in India. 

Many former beauty queens and top fashion models have become major Bollywood stars. Iconic names like Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, Deepika Padukone, and Priyanka Chopra Jonas began as successful models or pageant winners before achieving international fame as actresses. 

Beyond Bollywood, a distinct group of Indian supermodels has established significant careers on the global fashion circuit. Models like Ujjwala Raut and Lakshmi Menon have broken international barriers. These women have helped diversify the global runway, featuring in prestigious campaigns and major international fashion shows. Their success shows that Indian supermodels excel in the pure fashion industry as well as in the world of films.

Conclusion:

The current era can be called the second golden age for Indian Supermodels. The new wave led by Bhumika Arora and Avanti Nagrath is not just walking the runway; they are redefining beauty standards globally. They skilfully balance a fierce Indian identity with a powerful international presence. These supermodels have captured major campaigns and magazine covers worldwide.

Their ascent proves that genuine talent, combined with the industry’s embrace of diversity, is unstoppable. Despite facing hurdles like colorism, these Indian supermodels are turning challenges into triumphs. In the end, they are opening doors for the next generation. The future of Indian fashion is bright, impactful, and clearly visible on the world’s most coveted stages.

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