From being just another Bangalore lovely, to
gracing the pages of the Australian Vogue, Vidisha Pavate is as
international as they come.
A
Prasad Bidappa discovery
Vidisha Pavate, 5ft.10", dusky and reed slim, was
discovered a few years ago by Bangalore fashion icon, Prasad Bidappa
at a party.
The statuesque beauty caught his trained eye and
with a little bit of persuasion, Bidappa convinced Pavate to consider
a career in modelling.
First Ford Supermodel
A couple of months later, Prasad’s hard work in
training Vidisha paid off when she won the Ford Supermodel Contest in
1996.
In fact, she was the first Ford supermodel from
India and rubbed shoulders with other Ford models like Naomi Campbell,
Claudia Schiffer and Christy Turlington.
The crown on her head also won her a contract to
work in Paris, where she shows with some of the big names in the
fashion world.
Back
in India
Once her contract got over, Pavate chose to return
to India to complete her education. She was determined to it big in
India, despite her unconventional looks and dusky skin.
Initially, it was difficult for Pavate to break
into the scene back home, blame it on the Indian penchant for fair
skin and light eyes.
Then
Vama and Santiago happened..
But it was photographer Prabuddho Dasgupta and the
Vama campaign that broke all the initial resistance.
Hot on the success of Vama followed ads for Deepam
Saris and an ad for India's first perfume, Gao, launched by Ritu Nanda
in Goa.
She has also done a big television ad for Santiago
Rum.
And
the IGEDO fair in Dusseldorf
And if that’s not enough, Pavate was also chosen to
model at the prestigious IGEDO fair in Dusseldorf recently, the launch
of Longines watches in Munich along with a couple of other Indian
models and the International Gem and Jewellery show in Switzerland.
Apart from that, Vidisha is a regular catwalker on
the Indian ramps.
Her
mother the North Star
Coming from a broken family, Vidisha personifies an
independent spirit.
Her mother has been the main guiding force in her
life. "My mother has given me a lot of freedom. She has even given me
permission to live with a guy before I decide to marry him.
I suppose that's why I have never felt the need to
misuse my freedom. I don't drink or smoke."
