Model Monday: Chetan

▪As a new model in the industry, what do you see for the future of your career?

 I think my future in the industry is extremely bright. I signed with RED and began my career in August 2018, right before the start of my senior year of high school. At that time, I did not understand the modeling industry and questioned if the field was right for me. I was not receiving any breakthrough opportunities, so I doubted my ability to make it as a model. Now, I feel more confident in myself and believe that I actually belong with the top models. In the future, I see myself making more progress and developing the necessary tools to have a long career in this industry. 

▪How did you get signed to your agency? 

During the summer before my senior year of high school, my family and I began discussing the possibility of starting a modeling career. One of my father’s close friends is a mother agent and wanted to help me start my career in the industry. He had approached my father about possibly sending some photos to different agencies. RED Models liked the images we sent and asked to see me. I remember being so nervous that morning that I forgot to fully shave off my mustache. There was a small patch of hair that blatantly stood out. One of the agents actually noticed and made a comment about it which made me even more nervous about the meeting. Thankfully, my blunder did not destroy my career before it even started and RED offered me a contract that same day. Ever since then, I have enjoyed every single modeling opportunity I have been given and have not looked back. 

▪What do you want your agency to achieve for you ?

I can not think of  anything that I want my agency to achieve for me. I think that it is my responsibility to put myself out there in the industry and work hard to achieve my goals. I still want my agency to fight for me, push me to new limits and test my creativity. However, I believe that I have to work hard and strive towards achieving my own goals rather than relying on someone else for assistance. 

▪What are your goals as a model?

My goals as a model are constantly changing and evolving. In the beginning, my goals were less ambitious because I did not see myself being able to reach them. Now, I have new goals that I feel are attainable and reasonable. My main goals for 2020 are to sign a professional modeling contract with an agency in Europe and participate in any fashion week overseas. I have had the privilege of participating in several New York Fashion Week events for designers such as Kerby Jean Raymond, David Hart and Daisuke Obana. Now, I want to challenge myself by traveling to Europe by myself and exploring potential opportunities outside of New York. 

▪what are your goals outside of modeling and do you think modeling will help those ambitions?

My goals outside of modeling are related to my passion for music. I currently attend the Fashion Institute of Technology for advertising and marketing communications. After I graduate, one of my goals is to find a job in the music industry. Eventually, I want to own my own record label and manage a variety of genre-bending artists. Music has been a part of my life since I was a child. I have been playing the drums since I was eight and recently just started creating my own music with friends. Modeling has already helped place me in a better position to attain my dreams. I have met so many talented individuals at castings, backstage at shows and on set who all share a passion for music. They motivate me to continue working hard at perfecting my craft so that one day, I could actually make my dreams come true. 

▪What's your take on inclusion in the industry?

I certainly think that the modeling industry has become more inclusive of different races and backgrounds. Over the past few years, I have seen more and more models of color being chosen for campaigns, shows and presentations. In addition, more designers of color are showcasing their work and contributing meaningful and innovative designs to the culture. I think there is still some work to be done to make modeling more inclusive of all genders and body types, but I like the direction the industry is heading in.

▪How do you see the model and fashion industry-changing ,if any, and what would you like to see in the next few years ?

In the next few years, I hope to see the fashion industry become fully sustainable. Climate change and the concept of sustainability is something that I deeply care about. Our futures depend on our ability to maintain and protect our ecosystems. Right now, I am not seeing the fashion industry taking any steps to help fight climate change. We have the ability to change this and I am optimistic that in the next few years, the fashion industry can be transformed into a fully sustainable and environmentally conscious industry.