Mumbai: Australian-born Mumbai-based supermodel Alicia Kaur has emerged as a prominent personality in the Indian fashion industry. Known for her captivating runway appearances, which also include appearances at prestigious events like Lakme Fashion Week, the supermodel recently shared her approach to dealing with skin color diversity trolls in the modeling world.
The modeling and fashion industries have made significant strides in embracing diversity, welcoming models of different skin tones and body types. However, this inclusivity was not always the ideal. Speaking to ANI, Alicia Kaur reflected on the discrimination she faced in both Australia and India during the early years of her career.
“When I started modeling, one of the biggest things I was bullied for online was being white. I got comments like, ‘Get this white girl out of the country.’ And I thought, in my own country, I’m not considered a ‘wog’, which is an extremely derogatory term for someone of Greek or Italian descent, and my father is Greek. I grew up feeling like I didn’t belong in my own country,” Alicia shared.
She added, “Coming here and being called a white girl was disappointing. It made me realize that, no matter where I go, there will always be bullies. It seems like discrimination follows you no matter where you are.”
Alicia also revealed her mantra for overcoming discrimination:
“There will always be someone who believes they are right, or that their way is the only way. I have completely detached myself from this negativity through self-talk. I tell myself, ‘ No, don’t get involved in this. I see beauty in every person because we all have some beauty in us, or at least I think I am, still learning and growing every day. To achieve this, I need to understand who I am and what I like about myself.”
The supermodel admitted that her journey to success was not very easy. Despite facing many rejections in her early years, Alicia maintained a disciplined lifestyle, a principle she now advises young, aspiring models to adopt.
He stressed the importance of daily routine in achieving your goals:
“I believe in the power of daily practice. Discipline and consistency keep you focused. It is important to create a routine, set goals and visualize who you want to become. Whatever goal I have set for myself in India, I have managed to achieve that.”
Alicia Kaur made headlines for her performance with actor Sidharth Malhotra at designer duo Shantanu and Nikhil’s retro-themed fashion show in Delhi earlier this year.
