She stands 5 ft 9 inches tall, but that’s not her only claim to fame. Archana Akhil Kumar is a name that’s soaring the charts in the modelling frat. This leggy lass has all the oomph required to be the model of the moment. Runway staple for every top notch designer, Archana has walked in all the big fashion weeks in the country — Wills Lifestyle India Fashion Week, Lakme Fashion Week and has walked for Suneet Varma, Wendell Rodricks, Anand Kabra, Bibi Russell and many others. No wonder then, that fashionistas have laid their eyes on this next big thing to watch out for.
Archana has scorched runways and won a three-year contract with Elite Paris.
“I have just been signed up as the Face of Nirav Modi and have finished shooting for their campaigns which will be out in February 2014. It’s a very elegant Mughal look that was shot in front of the Taj Mahal. I was also selected as Tarun Tahiliani’s Face of the Year 2013. I’m in and out of shoots and shows every week. I travel every week and I have just finished a hectic season of shows and I’m now looking to rush to Milan. I was also selected as the Elite Look of the Year in 2011 and ranked among the top 10 models around the world.” The commerce graduate from Bangalore University, who’s been compared to model Lakshmi Menon, reveals, “Although I’m mostly shooting in India, I do get a lot of calls for shoots in New York, Paris, the Middle East and Shanghai. I will explore newer pastures soon, but right now I want to do a Masters in either communication or fashion. I will have to do an online course, as there’s no time to attend college. I also want to invest in property in Bengaluru.”
Getting candid on her love life, Archana reveals, “I am dating a handsome guy from New York who lives in Bengaluru and runs his own software firm there. Every time I get a break, I come to Bengaluru as my mom lives here. I live alone in Mumbai and it’s a crazy life in that city. I’m the only daughter and since my mom lives alone in Bengaluru, I make sure I visit her often.”
