Every shoot’s a challenge - Deborah Doris

City model Deborah Doris talks about her fashion journey that started at the DC office

From a career that started at the Deccan Chronicle office when she was 16 to being a participant in Kingfisher Supermodels Season 3, city model Deborah Doris Fell has come a long way. Says the 24-year-old about the show, “I had to send an audition tape for the show and within two-three days, I got a confirmation. I don’t have prior experience in bikini shoots or shooting for television, so this is a new experience for me.”

Talking about how she started modeling, Deborah says, “I read about the Dabur Gulabari Miss Fresh Face pageant in the papers and I submitted my photos at the DC office, after which I took a year off. After that, I posed for the cover of a magazine and that’s when I knew I wanted to do this full time.”

Since then, Deborah has taken part in various pageants across the country, walked for big brands like the Signature Model Hunt, the Blender’s Pride Fashion Tour and for designers like J.J. Valaya, Neeta Lulla, Varun Bahl and others. And she says it has all been amazing: “It’s hectic. I’m always traveling for shoots. But being part of the industry is great.”

The modeling industry has always been associated with struggle, but Deborah has a different story to tell. “Everyone goes through a few ups and downs. Some have it easy and some have to really work hard for it. I took up every shoot as a challenge and did my best,” she says.

For Deborah, who has always been a part of “safe shoots”, being a part of the Kingfisher show is a welcome change. “I didn’t want to be just another bikini model. I wanted to start with a brand and there’s no better name than Kingfisher Supermodels,” she says.

About getting to work with big names like Neha Dhupia, she says, “Neha is our mentor and she always comes on sets and gives a few tips to us. Even stylist Mohan Neelakantan styled us for a show. It’s amazing to be around such people who are so well connected in the industry. “Also, this year they have chosen a lot of dusky models so I’m glad about that.”