Model Pooja Mor On Getting Her Dream Start

Just like that, she was in the Big Apple, all thanks to a series of happy accidents. Yet, it was not just serendipity or pure luck. For this former Verve cover girl, and how many can say this, her international debut with Louis Vuitton was merely her breakout moment, not the pinnacle of her career. And since then, the 24-year-old has already worked for Stella McCartney, Narciso Rodriguez, Roberto Cavalli, Missoni, Elie Saab, Alexander McQueen and more. Definitely the It girl at the moment, these are Pooja Mor’s days in the sun….

“I feel like I can make a movie on my journey from Bareilly to NYC. It has been incredibly dramatic. I was approached to enter a pageant while I was in university and I ended up winning the Ahmedabad regional finals. But I was concentrating on completing my studies first, so I decided to move to Delhi and give modelling a go after I had graduated. My agent saw a picture of mine in an online catalogue I had shot, and recruited me. Then once, I was on a shoot in Mumbai with one of my friends who is represented by an international agency. Goofing around, we took a few behind-the-scenes pictures, which her agency saw. And now I’m here in NY.”

“I had to fly to LA to meet Nicolas (Ghesquière) before he confirmed me for a Louis Vuitton show. I went and met him and he said, ‘Well, we will see you in two days at Palm Springs!’ This was such a dream come true as it was Nicolas, the location Bob Hope’s house, and because of the timing which was sunset, the music and the clothes!”

“It would be me, me, me! If I had to pick between being any model or designer for a day, it would be Pooja Mor. My life is so interesting in every way right now. I just want to enjoy every second of it! I can’t be more grateful.”

“I don’t go by brands; I think I am more like, ‘Whatever I like, I will wear.’ It could be from a thrift shop or the biggest labels. Wardrobe must-haves for me are boyfriend jeans as they look cool and are super comfortable!”

“Modelling myths are that models don’t eat (I think we eat healthy) and that we are all always living glamorous lives.”

“‘Go with the flow without comparing or competing’ is the best advice I have ever received.”

“I have started drinking more carrot juice, and doing meditation and pilates. On a cheat day, gulab jamun and ras malai are my favourites.”

“Indian fashion was very Bollywood-oriented when I left the country. They say it is changing, so keeping my fingers crossed! One of the advantages of being an Indian model in the West is that they love Indian hair here. So that was superb.”

“Before I start my day, I always try to squeeze in at least 10 to 20 minutes of meditation, and I do Falun Dafa, a Chinese spiritual practice, which really helps me focus. It is important as you can get carried away with so much happening around you! Poise to me means the balance of everything.”