Fleur Xavier at Hushh. Picture by Pabitra Das

Classic with a twist. That’s what defines Fleur Xavier — both her personal style as well as aesthetics. A veteran in the modelling industry, she has walked the ramp for most biggies in the country and is a known face through her ad campaigns.

Having been in the industry for about 10 years, she has now found for herself an alternative career as an interior designer, creating beautiful spaces. A smart shift, given that the alternatives — chosen by many of her colleagues — seem to be item numbers and itsy-bitsy roles in Bollywood.

In town for a short visit, this 5-ft-10-inch leggy lass dazzled with her straight talk and simple charm.

t2 caught up with her for an exclusive chat on a candlelit rooftop at Hushh, in City Centre…

How did an economics student get into modelling?

People used to tell me to give modelling a shot because of my height. It was my mother who got me to participate in the 1996 Miss India contest. After that I won the Look of the Year and work used to come sporadically. It was after a year-and-a-half that my career took off and soon I was swamped with work. I worked with big designers, participated in fashion weeks and worked really hard doing the whole grind — back-to-back shows, early flights, late night shoots and all.

What about the work stress and its fallout?

When I joined the industry, anorexia and all were not an issue. My contemporaries or I never felt the need to starve. We exercised, ate normal food but didn’t binge.

I think this stress is more applicable to the present generation and also among youngsters outside the industry. It is all due to a particular perception — perhaps due to exposure to international trends.

A model’s career is fairly short-lived. So what happens next?

Modelling wasn’t my true love. I never quite wanted to become a model.

It was quite tough to initially adjust and it took me a while to get used to people staring at me all the time, hectic schedules, arc lights, make-up…. But these were the technical aspects of the job and I did it all till I had to and made enough money to buy myself a house.

Then I decided it was time to shift careers and gradually started reducing the amount of work I would take on. Now it has come down to about 20 per cent of what I used to do. I had always been interested in interiors and this is now a full-time profession.

What about Bollywood?

Bollywood was never an option. I am not interested in acting and never wanted to enter the industry. For me, modelling was not a stepping stone of any kind. Anyway, I don’t think I have a persona that is suited to Bollywood.

How is life as an interior designer?

I trained myself technically under established interior designers and learnt how to draw drafts under an architect. After this, I did a few projects for friends and started my own company called Fleur Space.Style.

I believe in styling spaces such that there is an underlying elegance and warmth. Spaces you can interact with and feel comfortable in. The idea is to combine different styles and accessories and work with the client’s wishes to come up with a design that works even if it is over-the-top, baroque or starkly minimalist.

And what about your personal style statement?

My own style is casual, simple and elegant — just like my homes. I think I dress better now than I used to! Thanks to hectic schedules and lack of sleep, style was usually the last thing on my mind.

Finally how have you always managed to maintain such a low profile and steer clear of controversy?

Well, I believe that one’s professional life and personal lives should be completely separate and I don’t see who I go out with or eat dinner with as anyone else’s concern. Also I feel that I am too well behaved and boring and I don’t fight or kiss in public and thus there is nothing to write about!

Rapidly fired

Favourite designer:

I like high street fashion but Sabyasachi Mukherjee is among my favourites

Girls with the best body on the ramp and on the screen

Nina Manuel and Shilpa Shetty

Guys with the best body on the ramp and on the screen

Muzammil Ibrahim and John Abraham

Best friend from the industry

Nina Manuel and Nethra Raghuraman

Best friend from outside the industry

l my friends outside the industry are no longer in the country and so I guess my best friends are all from the industry

Love at first sight or lust at first sight

Lust at first sight

Item number — yes, maybe, never

NEVER

Wardrobe malfunction you dread?

It has already happened to me and my clothes have fallen off but thankfully it was prior to the media explosion and I quickly ran inside

Models only bitch backstage — true, false or partly true

False