Speaker 1 (00:00)
Hello, dumplings. Welcome to Let's Get Ugly, the podcast where we dive deep into the latest beauty, wellness, and lifestyle secrets that aren't always pretty, but always real.
Speaker 3 (00:10)
We're your co-host Trishna and Disha.
Speaker 1 (00:12)
sister
duo keeping it 100 % authentic, really silly and sassy all at the same time.
Speaker 3 (00:19)
Yep, you probably have heard, we are super sassy and a touch silly. Welcome to Let's Get Ugly.
Speaker 1 (00:26)
Shivani, welcome to Let's Get Ugly. We're so excited to have you here and talk about your journey. You've worked with global beauty brands, walked for top designers, and just made an appearance at Cannes. So today we're gonna keep it real simple, real advice, real experience in how you've cracked into the industry.
Speaker 2 (00:29)
Hi.
Speaker 3 (00:48)
You have carved out a modeling career across not one, but two continents. And we want to get into what it actually takes to stand out. One of the things that we are really focused on is being grounded as well as the industry is so bustling and so big, which leads me on to my first question, which is, what was the first moment you realized your modeling career was taking off?
Speaker 2 (01:14)
Ooh, I think for like the longest time I didn't really know what I was doing so I was just floating around. I think it would have been probably when, maybe when I went to India actually and I did like Sabir Sachi, I did that as like the He's Campaign and I think at that point I was like ⁓ like this could be something.
Speaker 3 (01:36)
How did that even come about?
Speaker 2 (01:38)
⁓ How did that come about? So I just, I went to India just because I wanted a change of scenery so I put myself in Mumbai. I actually did, I signed there because I knew a photographer so he was like come, he was kind of telling me for a couple of years to come and I was like why would I, initially I was like why would I go to India, you if I want to do this in London. ⁓ But then I just ended up going ⁓ and then I did an editorial for ⁓ a magazine.
And that's where I wore a Sabia outfit and then Sabia actually saw an image and then booked me for his campaign. Wow.
Speaker 1 (02:13)
Wow, that's so cool. mean, tell us about India and how that differs from the UK in terms of the modeling industry.
Speaker 2 (02:24)
It is very different to be honest. think initially, like I just said, when India came about and the person, Rahul, that was telling me to come over, initially I was just like, I said, why would I go? I didn't really feel the need to go. didn't really, at that time, because I was so young, I guess I didn't really respect it that much. You'll think there's anything that I can kind of do here. I knew nothing about it and I just thought maybe I was a bit ignorant.
But then when I got there, it just blew my mind. It's insane. There's so much going on. It's such a huge industry ⁓ and I just really learned very quickly to respect it and that there's just so much going on and stuff. It's amazing.
Speaker 3 (03:06)
I feel like India is one of those places that will always have our hearts, especially Mumbai. We spent a lot of time there in the last two years, made great friends, kind of understood a little bit about the industry as well. And it can be so incredibly overstimulating. But I do love the fact that it does kind of help you carve out your own space. Were there any highlights for you while you were there?
Speaker 2 (03:30)
⁓ I think generally it would probably be around work, so it would be like the things I've achieved with like shoots and campaigns and things like that. But generally I think just India as in general is just so addictive. I think anyone that goes there that's not from there, they just want to go back. It has this type of energy there that like I'm sure you guys found that too. It just makes you just want to come back all the time. So I think just generally the energy. ⁓ But then also the friends that I made as well. I made like friends for life.
I think there's such like, it's such a, it's so nested, like everything's so intertwined over there, so yeah.
Speaker 1 (04:06)
Yeah, the community is something we found incredible there. Like it was super collaborative and everyone wanted to kind of do everything together and work together. And that's something that we've felt is not necessarily the same over here. How has that experience been for you over here in comparison to India?
Speaker 2 (04:26)
I mean, you do kind of, I mean, for me, I have my agency, so that kind of keeps me grounded because obviously I'm seeing the same people over and over again. I've been signed with this agency now for probably around, I think, six years. So that in itself is like grounding. And then I guess you do kind of see the same people over and over if you have a relationship with that brand. So yeah, I guess in a way, but obviously it's not as like, you know, it's not the same as India. India is very...
compact, I guess, in terms of the industry.
Speaker 3 (04:58)
For me, think that one of the things that always strikes me is that it's really difficult being Indian in the industry, in the UK. I just wanted to know a little bit about your experience with that. How do you feel about it and were there any moments where you were like, wow, this is amazing, or equally, wow, this is really not?
Speaker 2 (05:18)
Yeah, there have been both. So I think because I've been doing it for so long, I've experienced both ends of the spectrum. I think for me, I've been quite fortunate in my career to always be placed as the Indian model for a lot of brands. So when they'll need like one girl from each ethnicity, most of the time they'll just use me as the one that's going to fit the Indian face. So I know that is the case for like certain beauty brands. Like, you know, they need to shoot one of each girl. So...
you know, that's how I get pitched as an Indian girl now. Initially when I was with my other agency, they didn't really pitch me as an Indian girl, which was weird. They like changed my name ⁓ to Ivani. And ⁓ they, think a lot of people thought that I was mixed race, maybe half like Russian or like European or something, and then half Indian. So I don't know if they were trying to pitch me as like more Brazilian or something, but then this agency now have been amazing at pushing me as an Indian girl.
So I guess I have been fortunate, but I know that it's not always the case because obviously we are still in the UK, you know, so it's tough. There have been a couple of times that I've been on set where, yeah, like I've realised just from talking to the other models that I'm getting paid significantly less than the other girls, literally just probably because I'm Indian. So they've come in like complaining, saying... ⁓
you know, I'm getting paid this amount and I thought I was like, you know, my agency have now doubled it to this amount, so now I'm happy. But actually, their doubled amount is still, I was still getting paid half of that or something along the lines or a quarter of that or something. And I guess there is a little bit or maybe a lot of it being because I'm Indian. ⁓
Speaker 3 (07:08)
It's just so interesting.
Speaker 1 (07:10)
It is, I mean it really is, especially with the first agency pitching you to be a bit different. I mean I've heard that in India as well, when it comes to a lot of the modeling with fairer skin models that they actually use European people and pass them off as Indian.
Speaker 2 (07:27)
And a lot of Brazilian girls, a lot of Brazilian girls get passed off as Indian girls because they like the first, and it's so odd, know, because now I think things are changing here where actually they're starting to push Indian girls a lot more. And if you look at the Indian girls that are kind of getting represented in the industry, like you look at Bridgerton and like, I can't really think off the top of my head of other examples, but those girls, they do look quite Indian. But actually India's kind of doing it backwards.
through weird, they don't wanna push the girls that look so Indian. I think Sabiha Sachi was one of the first designers who actually pushed girls who had a darker skin tone.
Speaker 3 (08:07)
Which is so interesting. I mean, I was going to say in general, like what I've noticed with the overall market anyway is of course things are changing since the Ambani wedding. Like in the last year, we've had so much more attention on India as a market and the community. in some...
Speaker 2 (08:08)
Yeah, I think he was one of the first.
Speaker 3 (08:31)
instances it's like super exciting and in others it's kind of leading to the same thing happening again and again where it's like okay now we'll use saris and we'll use Indian fashion but we'll still model it with European or Brazilian or South American models and I'm like huh?
Speaker 2 (08:48)
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (08:50)
It's tricky,
it's tricky. mean, how can you make yourself feel resilient in those instances? Because modeling is such a difficult industry in general, and then you have this added pressure of being Indian and misrepresented within the first instance, then now you're in a situation where it's better, but it's still got a long way to go.
Speaker 2 (09:13)
Yeah, I think just changing agency and them pushing me as an Indian model. I did make it very clear to them when I joined this agency. I was like, you know, I'm Indian, like I want to be pushed as an Indian model. I love being Indian. Like I think I was, you know, I was doing a lot of Indian stuff before before I even got signed with any agency, you know. So it's like, yeah, I think that's been healing for me. Just.
being pushed into an Indian model. But generally when these things happen, like the name change and stuff like that, I was quite young and probably naive and probably just trying to get my foot in the industry. just being like, I don't really know what's going on, but like, okay, like if you're going to change my name, that's okay. everything was just okay at that time.
Speaker 3 (09:57)
bit more passive. If someone is like you, looks like you, and is wanting to break into the industry, what advice would you give them today?
Speaker 2 (10:07)
I think I would tell them to be persistent. I think that's really important because I think it's such like there's so many ups and downs that like you can't really get disheartened if you get rejected a little bit maybe at the beginning because you do have to work your way in. I don't think you can expect to come into the industry and think that everything's just gonna be given to you on a silver platter. You do have to work your way. Like I did a lot of test shoots at the beginning. I worked for free a lot.
you know, I really had to push myself to get my foot in. So I think just to be really resilient would be the first thing. And just have fun with it. Maybe as much as you have to take it seriously, also don't take it so seriously because it's one of the most fun industries in the whole world. So like you get to travel, meet people and work on all these different projects and stuff. try and like enjoy it, but take it seriously if that makes sense.
Speaker 1 (10:57)
Yeah, it does. mean, speaking of travel, you just got back from Cannes, which is so exciting. How did that opportunity come together?
Speaker 2 (11:06)
⁓ So basically one of my really close friends, ⁓ Amir, he was going anyway. So he's a hairstylist, he did my hair throughout Cannes. And he basically was like, I'm going, just come with me. So initially I just thought, okay, I'll go for a few days as a trip. But I think as you put your energy in that place, like I did, then things just start rolling and it was kind of like a snowball effect. So then I started.
I posted that I was there and then I started getting invited to things, brands started reaching out and then I ended up on the red carpet and things like that. So it all just started happening really quickly. But yeah, probably just through the people that I know as well, because everybody goes there at that time of year.
Speaker 3 (11:48)
It's a true testament to really putting yourself out there. But we do have to talk about the hair. Amer's hair, shout out to Amer. Yeah. Incredible. Tell us a little bit about the idea of the inspiration of the look. What was he thinking? What were you guys looking to do?
Speaker 2 (12:08)
Okay, so, my God, I'm gonna speak for him. ⁓ I feel like Armir is such a genius when it comes to hair. I just always say to him, do whatever you want to do. He has a lot of mood boards and stuff like that. I'll occasionally send him things and be like, this was cool, should we try this? But mainly, it's just all him because he's so amazing at doing hair. just...
I'm like, just do whatever you wanna do. And I think even with him, I don't think he'll be mad that I say this, but I think he makes it up a little bit as he goes along as well and gets inspired by who he's working on and like maybe the dress, the jewelry, the occasion and stuff like that. Yeah, but he's just insane.
Speaker 1 (12:47)
We
were obsessed with the flower detail in your hair. And that was something that we literally were like, wow, this is probably one of the best hair looks we saw the entire, well, we.
Speaker 3 (12:59)
Yeah, I mean it was insane. were just so in awe. It takes some serious skill to do that.
Speaker 2 (13:08)
It's insane, but I need to tell you about how that even came about. the flowers in my hair are actually earrings, but I wanted to wear them in my ears. So when we went to put them on, we realized that my jewelry box from home, I must have closed it on the earrings and they broke. So we didn't have the backs to the earrings. he was like, before I had to put them in, he was just desperately trying to fix them. And they wouldn't fix, and he was like, right, I'm just gonna put them in your hair.
Speaker 3 (13:35)
⁓ gosh.
Speaker 2 (13:36)
I love And it just looked insane the way he did it. He's just, yeah, so talented.
Speaker 3 (13:40)
They
were so cool.
Speaker 1 (13:42)
So versatile as well. mean, let's talk more about the beauty. What was the red carpet prep like with the kind of makeup and compliment with the hair? Because the makeup was super flawless as well.
Speaker 2 (13:54)
Thank
you, I actually did it myself that day. Which was, yeah, like every single day, every event, every, I had someone do my makeup and the one day that I was going on the red carpet where I probably desperately needed a makeup artist, I just had to just quickly do it myself. But I think I probably learnt like a few things along the way. Of course. About makeup, yeah. Do you do Oh, um, I don't know, I just feel like you just learn so much. Products, anytime a makeup artist is saying to me,
Speaker 3 (14:14)
Tell.
Speaker 2 (14:24)
⁓ babe, have you tried this? like, don't, don't ask me if I've tried it because I'm just going to go home and buy it and I can't buy it anymore makeup. So yeah, I'm just constantly like learning about it and stuff. I I've got like, okay at it over the years.
Speaker 1 (14:41)
I was like, okay, I was like, this looks professional level in real life. We can attest to that.
Speaker 3 (14:47)
Yeah, but what was your go-to look and inspiration? Were you tried and tested that day or were you experimental? What was your mindset going into it and what did you do?
Speaker 2 (14:59)
I think I just went for what I feel is safe. So I just went for more of a nude look. I didn't wanna overdo it. But then I know from doing shoots that I like it when ⁓ artists put quite a lot of liner around my eyes. So it makes them stand out more or just a lot of dark around and just buff it out because that's probably the easiest thing to do. You just draw it on and then buff it out. So I of stuck to that. I know it works and I think it looks okay.
Speaker 3 (15:25)
and look at it.
Speaker 1 (15:26)
Okay.
It was amazing. I what was your go-to product that day, would you say?
Speaker 2 (15:33)
I think the house labs foundation is so good. I don't know if you guys have tried it Lady Gaga's it's insane. That is like I think it's just so fun like lightweight So I don't really wear foundation I like to wear concealer or I'll wear like a CC cream or something But with that it just yeah, it just goes on so effortlessly. I think I use that for the whole week anytime that I did my makeup
Speaker 3 (15:41)
what makes it so good.
Gosh, amazing.
Speaker 1 (16:00)
That's the one thing that you will always have in your bag then for these kind of moments. Do you have any tips for people who are going to Cannes for the first time? Like what did you learn from being there?
Speaker 2 (16:05)
Yeah, for sure.
I think you've got to have a lot of energy because there's just so much going on. So probably like whenever you have time to rest, just rest. ⁓ And then I don't know what else would I say? Yeah, energy you need a lot of. were literally running because we had so much packed in. Because obviously before each event or whatever, I wanted to shoot the look. So we had to do that. Then it's like timings, you you want the right lighting and everything. But yeah, I think it's it's just fun, like just to have fun. Everyone's there. You literally walk up and down the boulevard.
And if you've traveled and worked in other countries, you will see probably everyone that you know from all around the world. But yeah, and then I think just to have an open mind because once you're there, things start coming through. So, yeah.
Speaker 3 (16:58)
I love that you went in good faith. I think that is just the coolest thing. But it's such a testament about today. Like in 2025, you can sometimes just show up and have good faith. Yeah. 100%.
Speaker 1 (17:09)
Definitely
I was gonna say is this where you say that the Kim Kardashian quote, what did she say? Just kidding, just kidding for anyone listening.
Speaker 3 (17:15)
to work these days.
I say
that a lot. I'm always like, nobody wants to work these days. But yeah, it's great. I actually think that is possibly the best snippet we've had today. When you were like, I just wanted to be there. I showed up. I had the chance. And then I put it out there. I mean, yeah, that's how you got to do things nowadays.
Speaker 2 (17:44)
Honestly,
and then everything just started working in my favor like I don't know if it's like manifestation or what or just putting yourself in the right place and the energy all started aligning but yeah, just everything started working out. It was good. Yeah
Speaker 1 (17:57)
Incredible. mean, what was... this is gonna be tricky, I think, to answer, but what was the standout moment for you of the whole week?
Speaker 2 (18:06)
⁓ I think probably just before I went on the red carpet because I had to go on alone and Armie couldn't come with me or anyone like anyone that I knew because you have a ticket and then you have to kind of just go on your own so yeah probably that because I was so nervous guys like I was terrified I'd never done a red carpet before and I was like I just don't know what to expect or like what's happening my friends had kind of like spoke me through like
you have to look over here first, then you look at this camera, then you go up, do a back shot, and then this will happen, then you'll go up and whatever. And I was just like, my god, it was just all happening at once. So that for me was probably the moment that stood out the most.
Speaker 3 (18:48)
I love that. adrenaline of a carpet.
Speaker 2 (18:50)
I'm
⁓
Speaker 1 (18:52)
and all the angles, but I mean the best part is you're a model so it was fine.
Speaker 2 (18:57)
Yeah,
I guess, yeah. Yeah. I'm glad that I had the experience so I wasn't extra nervous because I'm like, I'm okay in front of a camera, you know? That took the edge off things. Yeah.
Speaker 3 (18:59)
Yeah, I love that.
I
can imagine. ⁓ Okay, let's talk model beauty tips. So you look fab. Thank you. But you always look fab. And you travel a lot. And so I would say, what's your routine like when you're off duty? Because I feel like when you're on set, there's probably nothing else you want to do the rest of the day. So that day's gone. So when you're off duty, what do you do to keep yourself in the best shape and feeling the best?
Speaker 2 (19:17)
Thank you.
Speaker 3 (19:37)
What's your routine like?
Speaker 2 (19:39)
think
like obviously that day's gone, the day that you're on set, because like even yesterday I was shooting for Charlotte Tilbury and I was there from 8am and I think we've, I was the last person off set so I finished at like 10 or something so that day has gone because I was up from like quarter to six or something. But then if you can, the next day should also be gone, you should just spend it resting but that's if you can. Like in this country my schedule's not so busy.
When I'm in India or if I go to Dubai or something, I'm pretty much working back to back. Like every day, sometimes I could have like two things a day. So you don't really get the luxury of resting so much. ⁓ But if you can, you should try and relax the next day. And then other than that, I do really take care of myself. I can't lie. I do a lot of self care, especially when I'm home, because ⁓ I'm living in the Midlands right now with my family. So I travel in when I have work and I travel in when I have casting. So I have the luxury of like...
being in the countryside and just chilling out. But when I'm at home, I do a lot of self care, like with my skincare, I guess ⁓ I rest when I can, ⁓ when I'm not driving up and down to do castings and shoots. ⁓ What else? I do palates when I can fit that in and when I feel like I've recovered from the last session, because it's so hard. Yeah, just things like that. Like I meditate, I spend time with my family and like my cat.
Speaker 3 (20:51)
That it is.
Speaker 2 (20:57)
and stuff like that. feel like that's always really helpful. But I do look after myself, my diet and things like that as well.
Speaker 1 (21:05)
Yeah, I mean it sounds like you have the routine packed down in terms of how to unwind and reset yourself as well. But in terms of your skin and taking care of that, that's hard too because obviously when you're in set, like the product pylon is probably a lot. Like what do do for your skin?
Speaker 2 (21:27)
think removal is really important because for example yesterday I had the makeup put on and off on and off so many times that they usually weirdly enough they actually stop backwards they usually will do they won't start by doing the before shots if you're doing a before and after for a brand they always do that at the end because they almost want your skin to look more tired so they want it to have like come on off on off for it to look more the before shot to look more extreme
So they'll start with the full face, then they'll slowly take it down, add more, take it down, and things get changed and things all the time when you're on set. So I think removal is important. I use an oil-based remover, and I feel like that on a cotton pad is just the most gentle way to take off my makeup. Or I'll use a balm, which as you rub that in, that turns into a kind of oil consistency. So I think for me, personally, that's the thing that's probably saved my skin the most.
and just gentle products. ⁓
Speaker 3 (22:23)
What's your
best hack to remove mascara? Because I think that's the hardest. Like, how do you get rid of mascara without ending up with panda eyes the next day? And also without losing lashes. ⁓
Speaker 2 (22:37)
I think
what I do is I've always used, I got told this quite a few years ago, there's like a blue bottle of eye makeup remover from number seven and it's half my still of water and half a blue oil. I use that on a cotton pad, I just totally drench the cotton pads, two of them, and then I just hold it on my eyes for like a good couple of minutes and then when I take that off you can literally see the whole makeup look.
on the compound. If you've had like individuals, you can see those and it takes off waterproof mascara and stuff. So that for me is like my number one thing.
Speaker 1 (23:13)
That sounds great. Trishna was asking for her friend, aka her son.
Speaker 3 (23:17)
Yeah,
yeah, I'm the worst Literally the worst like when it comes to taking off makeup. I'm so lazy with it. ⁓ and like I will Happily sleep in makeup. yeah. Yeah. Yeah, and then and then I'm like, ⁓ usually never wear mascara because I know yeah Like even if you use a brown one people are like why do you have dirt on your face? I'm like, I really tried to take it off
Speaker 2 (23:35)
pain.
Speaker 1 (23:42)
By people you mean me? Most
of the time. ⁓ I'm like what's that on your face? Because I'm really good at removing makeup because I like need my skin to like breathe.
Speaker 2 (23:52)
Yeah,
for sure, it's so important. It's the most important thing.
Speaker 3 (23:56)
I know,
I've heard, I've heard. Okay, so now we have a quick fire section. Okay, let's do it. And these are beauty wrap up questions. Okay. So, are you ready?
Speaker 2 (24:10)
I think so.
Speaker 1 (24:12)
So
what's one beauty rule you love breaking?
Speaker 2 (24:17)
Hmm, I think I've got blush blindness. So probably that I do too much blush. Yeah, way too much blusher. Maybe not right now. feel like you're looking at me. I've that a couple times. So yeah, I break that rule all the time. You need to tone down and blusher.
Speaker 1 (24:26)
I know, I'm like, waving.
Speaker 3 (24:33)
If you could give your younger self one piece of beauty advice, what would it be?
Speaker 2 (24:38)
Take off your makeup before you go to sleep.
Speaker 3 (24:41)
Love
that one.
Speaker 1 (24:43)
Directed right out.
Younger self, someone in the same room.
Speaker 2 (24:48)
My
youngest half is wearing makeup but I would just be like as you get older that's probably a good tip.
Speaker 3 (24:53)
Yeah, yeah
Speaker 1 (24:55)
What's a beauty moment, good or bad, that you'll never forget that you've had on yourself?
Speaker 2 (25:01)
A beauty moment that I've... I don't know if this is the right answer but I've had my makeup done a few times that's not good. Yeah. So that has been a little bit traumatising. So that's kind of one thing that I probably wouldn't get over.
Speaker 3 (25:18)
Any specifically memorable bad makeup?
Speaker 2 (25:22)
Yeah,
not that I'm gonna name any names. Not that I probably remember as well, because I'm so bad with names. ⁓ yeah, it's more like, you know, when people are learning to do makeup, when I was younger, I would do a lot of the academies and they would be learning to do makeup. that they're literally, they probably never picked up a makeup brush in their life, but they're so enthusiastic to learn. So those times, just when they're right at the beginning of their journey, but then because I would have had like a little bit of experience, whatever, I would have helped.
Speaker 3 (25:25)
back here.
Speaker 2 (25:51)
where I could but then you don't want to also knock their confidence. So probably those moments where I've kind of like trusted them and then looked in the mirror after and been like ⁓
Speaker 3 (26:00)
Hahaha
Speaker 1 (26:01)
We've all had those moments even doing it on ourselves. Yeah So as a final segment before we wrap up we have a little card reading that we do for every guest
Speaker 2 (26:03)
you
Speaker 3 (26:03)
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (26:06)
True, yeah that's true.
I saw that earlier, thought wow, I hope we do it.
Speaker 1 (26:20)
Yes, so, well just a little bit, a little message for you for what's ahead.
Speaker 2 (26:28)
Is it like an affirmation?
Speaker 1 (26:30)
Yeah,
it can be too. So it's an Oracle card deck, but I use it as an affirmation. I just use it all the time as everything. Feeling this one, Chosen Family. Oh, that's so sweet. So just to reconnect with people that you love and just take time to do that. I love that. Especially after a busy, busy time working. It's probably the best thing to do.
Speaker 2 (26:55)
And I
feel like that's the first thing that I said, you know, in the questions when you guys asked me about what's important and I said family.
Speaker 3 (27:01)
It's actually so interesting. Sometimes I feel like we really cull the things that, you know, crop up in every aspect of life and you seem really good at manifesting.
Speaker 2 (27:12)
Oh
thanks, I think I realised when I went to Cannes I was like, hmmm am I good at this? Maybe I am, I think so? I agree. need to do it more often.
Speaker 3 (27:20)
Yeah, definitely.
You're so good at setting an intention. But thank you so much for sharing your journey with us today. you.
Speaker 2 (27:28)
happy.
Speaker 1 (27:30)
We've
absolutely loved having you and getting into these interesting conversations.
Speaker 2 (27:36)
Yeah, it's been fun. Thanks guys.
Speaker 3 (27:38)
Thank you.
Hello, dumplings. Welcome to Let's Get Ugly, the podcast where we dive deep into the latest beauty, wellness, and lifestyle secrets that aren't always pretty, but always real.
Speaker 3 (00:10)
We're your co-host Trishna and Disha.
Speaker 1 (00:12)
sister
duo keeping it 100 % authentic, really silly and sassy all at the same time.
Speaker 3 (00:19)
Yep, you probably have heard, we are super sassy and a touch silly. Welcome to Let's Get Ugly.
Speaker 1 (00:26)
Shivani, welcome to Let's Get Ugly. We're so excited to have you here and talk about your journey. You've worked with global beauty brands, walked for top designers, and just made an appearance at Cannes. So today we're gonna keep it real simple, real advice, real experience in how you've cracked into the industry.
Speaker 2 (00:29)
Hi.
Speaker 3 (00:48)
You have carved out a modeling career across not one, but two continents. And we want to get into what it actually takes to stand out. One of the things that we are really focused on is being grounded as well as the industry is so bustling and so big, which leads me on to my first question, which is, what was the first moment you realized your modeling career was taking off?
Speaker 2 (01:14)
Ooh, I think for like the longest time I didn't really know what I was doing so I was just floating around. I think it would have been probably when, maybe when I went to India actually and I did like Sabir Sachi, I did that as like the He's Campaign and I think at that point I was like ⁓ like this could be something.
Speaker 3 (01:36)
How did that even come about?
Speaker 2 (01:38)
⁓ How did that come about? So I just, I went to India just because I wanted a change of scenery so I put myself in Mumbai. I actually did, I signed there because I knew a photographer so he was like come, he was kind of telling me for a couple of years to come and I was like why would I, initially I was like why would I go to India, you if I want to do this in London. ⁓ But then I just ended up going ⁓ and then I did an editorial for ⁓ a magazine.
And that's where I wore a Sabia outfit and then Sabia actually saw an image and then booked me for his campaign. Wow.
Speaker 1 (02:13)
Wow, that's so cool. mean, tell us about India and how that differs from the UK in terms of the modeling industry.
Speaker 2 (02:24)
It is very different to be honest. think initially, like I just said, when India came about and the person, Rahul, that was telling me to come over, initially I was just like, I said, why would I go? I didn't really feel the need to go. didn't really, at that time, because I was so young, I guess I didn't really respect it that much. You'll think there's anything that I can kind of do here. I knew nothing about it and I just thought maybe I was a bit ignorant.
But then when I got there, it just blew my mind. It's insane. There's so much going on. It's such a huge industry ⁓ and I just really learned very quickly to respect it and that there's just so much going on and stuff. It's amazing.
Speaker 3 (03:06)
I feel like India is one of those places that will always have our hearts, especially Mumbai. We spent a lot of time there in the last two years, made great friends, kind of understood a little bit about the industry as well. And it can be so incredibly overstimulating. But I do love the fact that it does kind of help you carve out your own space. Were there any highlights for you while you were there?
Speaker 2 (03:30)
⁓ I think generally it would probably be around work, so it would be like the things I've achieved with like shoots and campaigns and things like that. But generally I think just India as in general is just so addictive. I think anyone that goes there that's not from there, they just want to go back. It has this type of energy there that like I'm sure you guys found that too. It just makes you just want to come back all the time. So I think just generally the energy. ⁓ But then also the friends that I made as well. I made like friends for life.
I think there's such like, it's such a, it's so nested, like everything's so intertwined over there, so yeah.
Speaker 1 (04:06)
Yeah, the community is something we found incredible there. Like it was super collaborative and everyone wanted to kind of do everything together and work together. And that's something that we've felt is not necessarily the same over here. How has that experience been for you over here in comparison to India?
Speaker 2 (04:26)
I mean, you do kind of, I mean, for me, I have my agency, so that kind of keeps me grounded because obviously I'm seeing the same people over and over again. I've been signed with this agency now for probably around, I think, six years. So that in itself is like grounding. And then I guess you do kind of see the same people over and over if you have a relationship with that brand. So yeah, I guess in a way, but obviously it's not as like, you know, it's not the same as India. India is very...
compact, I guess, in terms of the industry.
Speaker 3 (04:58)
For me, think that one of the things that always strikes me is that it's really difficult being Indian in the industry, in the UK. I just wanted to know a little bit about your experience with that. How do you feel about it and were there any moments where you were like, wow, this is amazing, or equally, wow, this is really not?
Speaker 2 (05:18)
Yeah, there have been both. So I think because I've been doing it for so long, I've experienced both ends of the spectrum. I think for me, I've been quite fortunate in my career to always be placed as the Indian model for a lot of brands. So when they'll need like one girl from each ethnicity, most of the time they'll just use me as the one that's going to fit the Indian face. So I know that is the case for like certain beauty brands. Like, you know, they need to shoot one of each girl. So...
you know, that's how I get pitched as an Indian girl now. Initially when I was with my other agency, they didn't really pitch me as an Indian girl, which was weird. They like changed my name ⁓ to Ivani. And ⁓ they, think a lot of people thought that I was mixed race, maybe half like Russian or like European or something, and then half Indian. So I don't know if they were trying to pitch me as like more Brazilian or something, but then this agency now have been amazing at pushing me as an Indian girl.
So I guess I have been fortunate, but I know that it's not always the case because obviously we are still in the UK, you know, so it's tough. There have been a couple of times that I've been on set where, yeah, like I've realised just from talking to the other models that I'm getting paid significantly less than the other girls, literally just probably because I'm Indian. So they've come in like complaining, saying... ⁓
you know, I'm getting paid this amount and I thought I was like, you know, my agency have now doubled it to this amount, so now I'm happy. But actually, their doubled amount is still, I was still getting paid half of that or something along the lines or a quarter of that or something. And I guess there is a little bit or maybe a lot of it being because I'm Indian. ⁓
Speaker 3 (07:08)
It's just so interesting.
Speaker 1 (07:10)
It is, I mean it really is, especially with the first agency pitching you to be a bit different. I mean I've heard that in India as well, when it comes to a lot of the modeling with fairer skin models that they actually use European people and pass them off as Indian.
Speaker 2 (07:27)
And a lot of Brazilian girls, a lot of Brazilian girls get passed off as Indian girls because they like the first, and it's so odd, know, because now I think things are changing here where actually they're starting to push Indian girls a lot more. And if you look at the Indian girls that are kind of getting represented in the industry, like you look at Bridgerton and like, I can't really think off the top of my head of other examples, but those girls, they do look quite Indian. But actually India's kind of doing it backwards.
through weird, they don't wanna push the girls that look so Indian. I think Sabiha Sachi was one of the first designers who actually pushed girls who had a darker skin tone.
Speaker 3 (08:07)
Which is so interesting. I mean, I was going to say in general, like what I've noticed with the overall market anyway is of course things are changing since the Ambani wedding. Like in the last year, we've had so much more attention on India as a market and the community. in some...
Speaker 2 (08:08)
Yeah, I think he was one of the first.
Speaker 3 (08:31)
instances it's like super exciting and in others it's kind of leading to the same thing happening again and again where it's like okay now we'll use saris and we'll use Indian fashion but we'll still model it with European or Brazilian or South American models and I'm like huh?
Speaker 2 (08:48)
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (08:50)
It's tricky,
it's tricky. mean, how can you make yourself feel resilient in those instances? Because modeling is such a difficult industry in general, and then you have this added pressure of being Indian and misrepresented within the first instance, then now you're in a situation where it's better, but it's still got a long way to go.
Speaker 2 (09:13)
Yeah, I think just changing agency and them pushing me as an Indian model. I did make it very clear to them when I joined this agency. I was like, you know, I'm Indian, like I want to be pushed as an Indian model. I love being Indian. Like I think I was, you know, I was doing a lot of Indian stuff before before I even got signed with any agency, you know. So it's like, yeah, I think that's been healing for me. Just.
being pushed into an Indian model. But generally when these things happen, like the name change and stuff like that, I was quite young and probably naive and probably just trying to get my foot in the industry. just being like, I don't really know what's going on, but like, okay, like if you're going to change my name, that's okay. everything was just okay at that time.
Speaker 3 (09:57)
bit more passive. If someone is like you, looks like you, and is wanting to break into the industry, what advice would you give them today?
Speaker 2 (10:07)
I think I would tell them to be persistent. I think that's really important because I think it's such like there's so many ups and downs that like you can't really get disheartened if you get rejected a little bit maybe at the beginning because you do have to work your way in. I don't think you can expect to come into the industry and think that everything's just gonna be given to you on a silver platter. You do have to work your way. Like I did a lot of test shoots at the beginning. I worked for free a lot.
you know, I really had to push myself to get my foot in. So I think just to be really resilient would be the first thing. And just have fun with it. Maybe as much as you have to take it seriously, also don't take it so seriously because it's one of the most fun industries in the whole world. So like you get to travel, meet people and work on all these different projects and stuff. try and like enjoy it, but take it seriously if that makes sense.
Speaker 1 (10:57)
Yeah, it does. mean, speaking of travel, you just got back from Cannes, which is so exciting. How did that opportunity come together?
Speaker 2 (11:06)
⁓ So basically one of my really close friends, ⁓ Amir, he was going anyway. So he's a hairstylist, he did my hair throughout Cannes. And he basically was like, I'm going, just come with me. So initially I just thought, okay, I'll go for a few days as a trip. But I think as you put your energy in that place, like I did, then things just start rolling and it was kind of like a snowball effect. So then I started.
I posted that I was there and then I started getting invited to things, brands started reaching out and then I ended up on the red carpet and things like that. So it all just started happening really quickly. But yeah, probably just through the people that I know as well, because everybody goes there at that time of year.
Speaker 3 (11:48)
It's a true testament to really putting yourself out there. But we do have to talk about the hair. Amer's hair, shout out to Amer. Yeah. Incredible. Tell us a little bit about the idea of the inspiration of the look. What was he thinking? What were you guys looking to do?
Speaker 2 (12:08)
Okay, so, my God, I'm gonna speak for him. ⁓ I feel like Armir is such a genius when it comes to hair. I just always say to him, do whatever you want to do. He has a lot of mood boards and stuff like that. I'll occasionally send him things and be like, this was cool, should we try this? But mainly, it's just all him because he's so amazing at doing hair. just...
I'm like, just do whatever you wanna do. And I think even with him, I don't think he'll be mad that I say this, but I think he makes it up a little bit as he goes along as well and gets inspired by who he's working on and like maybe the dress, the jewelry, the occasion and stuff like that. Yeah, but he's just insane.
Speaker 1 (12:47)
We
were obsessed with the flower detail in your hair. And that was something that we literally were like, wow, this is probably one of the best hair looks we saw the entire, well, we.
Speaker 3 (12:59)
Yeah, I mean it was insane. were just so in awe. It takes some serious skill to do that.
Speaker 2 (13:08)
It's insane, but I need to tell you about how that even came about. the flowers in my hair are actually earrings, but I wanted to wear them in my ears. So when we went to put them on, we realized that my jewelry box from home, I must have closed it on the earrings and they broke. So we didn't have the backs to the earrings. he was like, before I had to put them in, he was just desperately trying to fix them. And they wouldn't fix, and he was like, right, I'm just gonna put them in your hair.
Speaker 3 (13:35)
⁓ gosh.
Speaker 2 (13:36)
I love And it just looked insane the way he did it. He's just, yeah, so talented.
Speaker 3 (13:40)
They
were so cool.
Speaker 1 (13:42)
So versatile as well. mean, let's talk more about the beauty. What was the red carpet prep like with the kind of makeup and compliment with the hair? Because the makeup was super flawless as well.
Speaker 2 (13:54)
Thank
you, I actually did it myself that day. Which was, yeah, like every single day, every event, every, I had someone do my makeup and the one day that I was going on the red carpet where I probably desperately needed a makeup artist, I just had to just quickly do it myself. But I think I probably learnt like a few things along the way. Of course. About makeup, yeah. Do you do Oh, um, I don't know, I just feel like you just learn so much. Products, anytime a makeup artist is saying to me,
Speaker 3 (14:14)
Tell.
Speaker 2 (14:24)
⁓ babe, have you tried this? like, don't, don't ask me if I've tried it because I'm just going to go home and buy it and I can't buy it anymore makeup. So yeah, I'm just constantly like learning about it and stuff. I I've got like, okay at it over the years.
Speaker 1 (14:41)
I was like, okay, I was like, this looks professional level in real life. We can attest to that.
Speaker 3 (14:47)
Yeah, but what was your go-to look and inspiration? Were you tried and tested that day or were you experimental? What was your mindset going into it and what did you do?
Speaker 2 (14:59)
I think I just went for what I feel is safe. So I just went for more of a nude look. I didn't wanna overdo it. But then I know from doing shoots that I like it when ⁓ artists put quite a lot of liner around my eyes. So it makes them stand out more or just a lot of dark around and just buff it out because that's probably the easiest thing to do. You just draw it on and then buff it out. So I of stuck to that. I know it works and I think it looks okay.
Speaker 3 (15:25)
and look at it.
Speaker 1 (15:26)
Okay.
It was amazing. I what was your go-to product that day, would you say?
Speaker 2 (15:33)
I think the house labs foundation is so good. I don't know if you guys have tried it Lady Gaga's it's insane. That is like I think it's just so fun like lightweight So I don't really wear foundation I like to wear concealer or I'll wear like a CC cream or something But with that it just yeah, it just goes on so effortlessly. I think I use that for the whole week anytime that I did my makeup
Speaker 3 (15:41)
what makes it so good.
Gosh, amazing.
Speaker 1 (16:00)
That's the one thing that you will always have in your bag then for these kind of moments. Do you have any tips for people who are going to Cannes for the first time? Like what did you learn from being there?
Speaker 2 (16:05)
Yeah, for sure.
I think you've got to have a lot of energy because there's just so much going on. So probably like whenever you have time to rest, just rest. ⁓ And then I don't know what else would I say? Yeah, energy you need a lot of. were literally running because we had so much packed in. Because obviously before each event or whatever, I wanted to shoot the look. So we had to do that. Then it's like timings, you you want the right lighting and everything. But yeah, I think it's it's just fun, like just to have fun. Everyone's there. You literally walk up and down the boulevard.
And if you've traveled and worked in other countries, you will see probably everyone that you know from all around the world. But yeah, and then I think just to have an open mind because once you're there, things start coming through. So, yeah.
Speaker 3 (16:58)
I love that you went in good faith. I think that is just the coolest thing. But it's such a testament about today. Like in 2025, you can sometimes just show up and have good faith. Yeah. 100%.
Speaker 1 (17:09)
Definitely
I was gonna say is this where you say that the Kim Kardashian quote, what did she say? Just kidding, just kidding for anyone listening.
Speaker 3 (17:15)
to work these days.
I say
that a lot. I'm always like, nobody wants to work these days. But yeah, it's great. I actually think that is possibly the best snippet we've had today. When you were like, I just wanted to be there. I showed up. I had the chance. And then I put it out there. I mean, yeah, that's how you got to do things nowadays.
Speaker 2 (17:44)
Honestly,
and then everything just started working in my favor like I don't know if it's like manifestation or what or just putting yourself in the right place and the energy all started aligning but yeah, just everything started working out. It was good. Yeah
Speaker 1 (17:57)
Incredible. mean, what was... this is gonna be tricky, I think, to answer, but what was the standout moment for you of the whole week?
Speaker 2 (18:06)
⁓ I think probably just before I went on the red carpet because I had to go on alone and Armie couldn't come with me or anyone like anyone that I knew because you have a ticket and then you have to kind of just go on your own so yeah probably that because I was so nervous guys like I was terrified I'd never done a red carpet before and I was like I just don't know what to expect or like what's happening my friends had kind of like spoke me through like
you have to look over here first, then you look at this camera, then you go up, do a back shot, and then this will happen, then you'll go up and whatever. And I was just like, my god, it was just all happening at once. So that for me was probably the moment that stood out the most.
Speaker 3 (18:48)
I love that. adrenaline of a carpet.
Speaker 2 (18:50)
I'm
⁓
Speaker 1 (18:52)
and all the angles, but I mean the best part is you're a model so it was fine.
Speaker 2 (18:57)
Yeah,
I guess, yeah. Yeah. I'm glad that I had the experience so I wasn't extra nervous because I'm like, I'm okay in front of a camera, you know? That took the edge off things. Yeah.
Speaker 3 (18:59)
Yeah, I love that.
I
can imagine. ⁓ Okay, let's talk model beauty tips. So you look fab. Thank you. But you always look fab. And you travel a lot. And so I would say, what's your routine like when you're off duty? Because I feel like when you're on set, there's probably nothing else you want to do the rest of the day. So that day's gone. So when you're off duty, what do you do to keep yourself in the best shape and feeling the best?
Speaker 2 (19:17)
Thank you.
Speaker 3 (19:37)
What's your routine like?
Speaker 2 (19:39)
think
like obviously that day's gone, the day that you're on set, because like even yesterday I was shooting for Charlotte Tilbury and I was there from 8am and I think we've, I was the last person off set so I finished at like 10 or something so that day has gone because I was up from like quarter to six or something. But then if you can, the next day should also be gone, you should just spend it resting but that's if you can. Like in this country my schedule's not so busy.
When I'm in India or if I go to Dubai or something, I'm pretty much working back to back. Like every day, sometimes I could have like two things a day. So you don't really get the luxury of resting so much. ⁓ But if you can, you should try and relax the next day. And then other than that, I do really take care of myself. I can't lie. I do a lot of self care, especially when I'm home, because ⁓ I'm living in the Midlands right now with my family. So I travel in when I have work and I travel in when I have casting. So I have the luxury of like...
being in the countryside and just chilling out. But when I'm at home, I do a lot of self care, like with my skincare, I guess ⁓ I rest when I can, ⁓ when I'm not driving up and down to do castings and shoots. ⁓ What else? I do palates when I can fit that in and when I feel like I've recovered from the last session, because it's so hard. Yeah, just things like that. Like I meditate, I spend time with my family and like my cat.
Speaker 3 (20:51)
That it is.
Speaker 2 (20:57)
and stuff like that. feel like that's always really helpful. But I do look after myself, my diet and things like that as well.
Speaker 1 (21:05)
Yeah, I mean it sounds like you have the routine packed down in terms of how to unwind and reset yourself as well. But in terms of your skin and taking care of that, that's hard too because obviously when you're in set, like the product pylon is probably a lot. Like what do do for your skin?
Speaker 2 (21:27)
think removal is really important because for example yesterday I had the makeup put on and off on and off so many times that they usually weirdly enough they actually stop backwards they usually will do they won't start by doing the before shots if you're doing a before and after for a brand they always do that at the end because they almost want your skin to look more tired so they want it to have like come on off on off for it to look more the before shot to look more extreme
So they'll start with the full face, then they'll slowly take it down, add more, take it down, and things get changed and things all the time when you're on set. So I think removal is important. I use an oil-based remover, and I feel like that on a cotton pad is just the most gentle way to take off my makeup. Or I'll use a balm, which as you rub that in, that turns into a kind of oil consistency. So I think for me, personally, that's the thing that's probably saved my skin the most.
and just gentle products. ⁓
Speaker 3 (22:23)
What's your
best hack to remove mascara? Because I think that's the hardest. Like, how do you get rid of mascara without ending up with panda eyes the next day? And also without losing lashes. ⁓
Speaker 2 (22:37)
I think
what I do is I've always used, I got told this quite a few years ago, there's like a blue bottle of eye makeup remover from number seven and it's half my still of water and half a blue oil. I use that on a cotton pad, I just totally drench the cotton pads, two of them, and then I just hold it on my eyes for like a good couple of minutes and then when I take that off you can literally see the whole makeup look.
on the compound. If you've had like individuals, you can see those and it takes off waterproof mascara and stuff. So that for me is like my number one thing.
Speaker 1 (23:13)
That sounds great. Trishna was asking for her friend, aka her son.
Speaker 3 (23:17)
Yeah,
yeah, I'm the worst Literally the worst like when it comes to taking off makeup. I'm so lazy with it. ⁓ and like I will Happily sleep in makeup. yeah. Yeah. Yeah, and then and then I'm like, ⁓ usually never wear mascara because I know yeah Like even if you use a brown one people are like why do you have dirt on your face? I'm like, I really tried to take it off
Speaker 2 (23:35)
pain.
Speaker 1 (23:42)
By people you mean me? Most
of the time. ⁓ I'm like what's that on your face? Because I'm really good at removing makeup because I like need my skin to like breathe.
Speaker 2 (23:52)
Yeah,
for sure, it's so important. It's the most important thing.
Speaker 3 (23:56)
I know,
I've heard, I've heard. Okay, so now we have a quick fire section. Okay, let's do it. And these are beauty wrap up questions. Okay. So, are you ready?
Speaker 2 (24:10)
I think so.
Speaker 1 (24:12)
So
what's one beauty rule you love breaking?
Speaker 2 (24:17)
Hmm, I think I've got blush blindness. So probably that I do too much blush. Yeah, way too much blusher. Maybe not right now. feel like you're looking at me. I've that a couple times. So yeah, I break that rule all the time. You need to tone down and blusher.
Speaker 1 (24:26)
I know, I'm like, waving.
Speaker 3 (24:33)
If you could give your younger self one piece of beauty advice, what would it be?
Speaker 2 (24:38)
Take off your makeup before you go to sleep.
Speaker 3 (24:41)
Love
that one.
Speaker 1 (24:43)
Directed right out.
Younger self, someone in the same room.
Speaker 2 (24:48)
My
youngest half is wearing makeup but I would just be like as you get older that's probably a good tip.
Speaker 3 (24:53)
Yeah, yeah
Speaker 1 (24:55)
What's a beauty moment, good or bad, that you'll never forget that you've had on yourself?
Speaker 2 (25:01)
A beauty moment that I've... I don't know if this is the right answer but I've had my makeup done a few times that's not good. Yeah. So that has been a little bit traumatising. So that's kind of one thing that I probably wouldn't get over.
Speaker 3 (25:18)
Any specifically memorable bad makeup?
Speaker 2 (25:22)
Yeah,
not that I'm gonna name any names. Not that I probably remember as well, because I'm so bad with names. ⁓ yeah, it's more like, you know, when people are learning to do makeup, when I was younger, I would do a lot of the academies and they would be learning to do makeup. that they're literally, they probably never picked up a makeup brush in their life, but they're so enthusiastic to learn. So those times, just when they're right at the beginning of their journey, but then because I would have had like a little bit of experience, whatever, I would have helped.
Speaker 3 (25:25)
back here.
Speaker 2 (25:51)
where I could but then you don't want to also knock their confidence. So probably those moments where I've kind of like trusted them and then looked in the mirror after and been like ⁓
Speaker 3 (26:00)
Hahaha
Speaker 1 (26:01)
We've all had those moments even doing it on ourselves. Yeah So as a final segment before we wrap up we have a little card reading that we do for every guest
Speaker 2 (26:03)
you
Speaker 3 (26:03)
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (26:06)
True, yeah that's true.
I saw that earlier, thought wow, I hope we do it.
Speaker 1 (26:20)
Yes, so, well just a little bit, a little message for you for what's ahead.
Speaker 2 (26:28)
Is it like an affirmation?
Speaker 1 (26:30)
Yeah,
it can be too. So it's an Oracle card deck, but I use it as an affirmation. I just use it all the time as everything. Feeling this one, Chosen Family. Oh, that's so sweet. So just to reconnect with people that you love and just take time to do that. I love that. Especially after a busy, busy time working. It's probably the best thing to do.
Speaker 2 (26:55)
And I
feel like that's the first thing that I said, you know, in the questions when you guys asked me about what's important and I said family.
Speaker 3 (27:01)
It's actually so interesting. Sometimes I feel like we really cull the things that, you know, crop up in every aspect of life and you seem really good at manifesting.
Speaker 2 (27:12)
Oh
thanks, I think I realised when I went to Cannes I was like, hmmm am I good at this? Maybe I am, I think so? I agree. need to do it more often.
Speaker 3 (27:20)
Yeah, definitely.
You're so good at setting an intention. But thank you so much for sharing your journey with us today. you.
Speaker 2 (27:28)
happy.
Speaker 1 (27:30)
We've
absolutely loved having you and getting into these interesting conversations.
Speaker 2 (27:36)
Yeah, it's been fun. Thanks guys.
Speaker 3 (27:38)
Thank you.
