Luxury Models

Over 200 girls are positioned at various car stalls for the week-long Auto Expo. It is great money,especially when you’re a student,even though the days are long and you have to deal with some dodgy sorts. “I no longer have to depend on my parents for money,” says Ranjana Tiwari,21,who graduated in English from Gargi College last year and has been a regular at many exhibitions at Pragati Maidan. A few months ago,she participated in the Telecom Expo. “We get a 15-minute break every hour and I indulge in a foot massage every evening,” says Tiwari.

“We shortlist the girls based on their communication skills,looks and style. We introduced the candidates to our clients,BMW,who briefed them on the product,” says Humayoon Zaidi,CEO,Event Network,who hired the girls for the BMW stall at the Auto Expo. They pay Rs 10,000-12,000 per day. The girls are smartly kitted out in formal blue suits with scarves designed by Hemant Lecoanet. “Looks are not the only criterion. The model should be pleasant and conversant as well,” says Zaidi.

While foreigners and college students form the majority of models,a few stalls like the Audi’s only have experienced models. Sanju Sharma,who works with Glaze modelling agency,has hired 25 models (15 girls and 10 boys) for Audi this year.

The seriously expensive cars like Jaguar and Land Rover have chosen mostly foreign models over Indian ones. And even though hazel-eyed Russian model Luidmila Nikitina,24,who moved to Delhi from St Petersburg two months ago,can barely speak English,it doesn’t seem to matter. “I like the people here. They are courteous and I have done auto shows back home too,” says Nikitina haltingly. After her two-day contract at the Jaguar stall,she will pocket about Rs 20,000. For New Zealander Alana Mespell,working at the Auto Expo is a way to fund her music career with the jazz band Sixty’s Mind,which sometimes plays at Delhi’s five-star hotels. “I came here to pursue modelling but there wasn’t much work so I formed a band with jazz friends,” says Mespell,a trained nutritionist,who is now draped over a Skoda.