The Lakme Fashion Week organizers have completed the first round of model auditions, with the jury selecting four models and shortlisting six more. And neither of the selected four – Rafaelly Santos, Ashika Jane, Marni Fullerton Smith and Miriam Ilorah – hail from India. According to the judges, it’s their talent, not their nationality, that was the deciding factor. Marc Robinson, one of the show directors, LFW, said, “Our criteria to select a model depends on numerous factors such as her gait, looks, skin colour, height…and a toned body. When I say skin colour or body type, I mean we are catering to international fashion critics and buyers who want to see how a particular colour of a garment or a silhouette would look on a foreigner. Hence, a few foreign models do justice to such a grand fashion event.”

Sujal Shah, head of fashion, IMG India says, “This is an Indian fashion week and hence Indian models are a must for our show. But we are never looking at which country a model belongs to. Irrespective of their nationality, we only consider talented individuals. A mix of girls from different countries does add spice to the whole experience.”

~IANS