Wearing a chocolate brown Miu Miu jacket, black skirt, chunky belt, chic hoops, booties, and an eyelet bag, model Roselynn Raj looked eclectic when we met her waiting to prep for designer Anurag Gupta’s show at Lakme Fashion Week in partnership with FDCI in Mumbai. We chatted about how effortlessly the models transitioned from the runway to their personal wardrobes.
“I thrifted the Miu Miu jacket in Milan for €10, and then I put a Muji belt on it. My hoops were gifted to me by a friend. I love wearing heels because I’m 5’7”. The skirt is from H&M, which is another black skirt. So, it’s like workwear,” Roselynn smiled. The combination of browns was rich and dramatic.
There is something electric about the Chennai girl. She started modelling at 27, and in less than 10 years, Roselynn has established a niche with her sharp features, beautiful skin tone, and a distinctly Indian yet global look. Her eyes speak a thousand words, even though she speaks softly, but assuredly.
She said her plunge into modelling was a leap of faith. A lifelong dream that she just had to fulfil. “I started at 27 to be on the safer side. I had a whole career in journalism ahead of me. It’s always been my dream to use my body as a piece of art or create art with it. I consider myself a canvas,” she smiled.
Self-taught, Fashion TV was a “mentor” and her mirror in her bedroom, her constant friend, which remained privy to her purpose. She didn’t think 27 was too late to make a switch, though. It was more of a now-or-never choice. “I didn’t think age really mattered. I thought if I didn’t go now, I would never live this dream. And this was something that I’ve always dreamt about. So, being the Aries that I am, I just took the leap of faith, and here I am,” she smiled.
In a short time, Roselynn has worked with some of the biggest names in Indian fashion, including Rahul Mishra, Manish Malhotra, and Abraham & Thakore. “Since I joined, I wondered if they would accept me because of my skin colour and how commercials work in India. I was like, let me see how it does. And since the beginning, it’s been a high,” she said.
She singled out her international campaign for Levi’s with Deepika Padukone as special. “They wanted a newcomer, and there I was,” she said. David Abraham and Rakesh Thakore are two designers she admires. “I really respect them because their technical work with fabrics is so beautiful. It’s like Indian preppy, or I would call it the Thom Browne of India. These guys did it long before anybody else,” she said.
Roselynn said the world of fashion has made her feel welcome. Although skin colour bias remains a reality in India, she has felt more accepted in the fashion space. “If I were to say I’m finding my skin colour discriminated against, that would happen on the streets or among the people around me. Somehow in the industry, I’ve been cushioned and placed well. So I’m so glad, and that’s why I also love being in this industry because I feel more accepted,” she said.
Jibes about the skin she was born in haven’t kept Roselynn down ever since she was a kid. “Growing up, I was a Tamilian living in Gujarat. My skin colour wasn’t accepted. I was called African or something, but not Indian. They would call me Kali. And once I told my father that they’re calling me Kali all the time. What does it mean? Why do I feel bad about it? My dad was like, ‘Kali is a Goddess. Take it like that.’ So it’s about your perspective. Feel yourself. You have to create your own space and own it. That’s what I’ve done all my life.”
She goes on to talk about facing bullying. “When these guys told me, I never for a second thought I was ugly or bad-looking. They would bully me, but in spite of that, I would still go back to my mirror and still feel like I deserve to be in this industry. That did not kill the child who dreamt of this beautiful space to create something,” smiled a confident Roselynn.
There are no specific rules for succeeding in the world of modelling. “I’ve been following fashion for the longest time since I was a kid, including Miss India pageants and high fashion. I am someone who really thinks of myself as part of the high fashion space because of the kind of dressing or the kind of looks I prefer personally. So just do it. Be confident. Even if it’s not accepted, it’s okay. We can move on. We can move on from our mistakes, but never stop trying something you feel strongly about. Go for it. Take the leap of faith. Fly,” was Roselynn’s advice as she disappeared into the beautiful backstage chaos before ‘lights, camera, action!’
Saionee Chakraborty