Lakshmi Menon: Model Moment (Video)

New York Fashion Week (Fall 2010) is around the corner, but before I look ahead I'm looking back to a video diary by my favourite model, Lakshmi Menon. I hope I see her at the shows in two weeks.

Michael Kors 2010

"Love Games" by Lady Gaga opened the Michael Kors Spring 2010 show at New York Fashion Week. This was followed by "Poker Face," and that's when I realized he wasn't going to play anything but. It was kind of surprising because one tends to look to runway music as a venue to discover the newest, hipster music (or the newest, hipster remix). I know DJs who specialize in runway music -- who live for this stuff -- that would be heartbroken by hearing a Lady Gaga track at a fashion show.

Thus, Lady Gaga was a tad commercial for me. And not the most timely. Lady Gaga in September 2009? Talk about old news. It also had nothing to do with the collection (well, you can judge for yourself here). It was only when I read the directives backstage that I made the connection.

Top 10: Hype-Worthy 2009 Models

March 7, 2009 – Sasha, Raquel, Lakshmi – sound familiar? While the supermodel ear is officially over, when even the least fashion savvy could recite household names like Naomi, Christie or Cindy, the new crop of girls are stars in their own right. Which fashion models will be destined to dominate headlines this year? Check out the Top 10: Hype-Worthy 2009 Models presented by AskMen.com and written by Sachin Bhola (yours truly!).

And then there were 10...

http://bit.ly/TtWko

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