Lakshmi Menon: Model Moment

December 12, 2008 – Earlier this year, while traveling throughout India, I discovered newcomer Lakshmi Menon, the 26-year-old Bangalore-born beauty, whose looks have captured the industry’s attention.

And what good timing. 2008 was the year that surfaced an issue long surrounding the industry: Is fashion racist? The lack of visible minorities on the runway sparked countless related articles and Italian Vogue’s notorious July 2008 issue, a.k.a. the “black issue,” devoted entirely to black models. If black models, as was pointed out, are drowning in the sea of Eastern Europeans dominating the industry, where does that leave other minority models?

Enter Lakshmi Menon, whose debut in her native India has quickly catapulted into an international career. Over the past year, the five-foot-eleven model has become the sole face of Hermès (replacing Canadian Daria Werbowy); has walked the runway for Ralph Lauren, D&G and Stella McCartney to name a few and; has booked campaigns with Givenchy and H&M.

But her greatest success has been providing a face for minorities who are grossly unrepresented in the industry. Her looks breathe life and excitement into fashion and I hope to see more of her -- and other global beauties -- in the future.

Lakshmi is represented by Ford Models in New York.

Photo Above: Feature, US Vogue December 2008
Photo Below: Ad Campaign, Givenchy Fall/Winter 2008