Putting on their best face
Students model on the runway, for photoshoots Emerson Elledge
W
alking a runway, making commercials, sponsoring products and more were childhood dreams to many people. Sophomore Vani Sharma turned those dreams into a reality for herself. “When I was younger, I used to love dressing up in my mom’s clothes,” Sharma said. “Even though I was shy, I thought ‘Why not? Why not go try [pageant modeling] out just for fun?’” At 15 years old, Sharma has achieved goals in the industry that most only dream about. Since winning International United Miss Indiana Preteen, she has been on four trips around the country, been the namesake of a designer shoe and ran a virtual showcase that sponsored the education of 12 children in India for a year. Sharma inspired sophomore Sherline Lopez to enter the pageant world, and subsequently the modeling industry. “My very first pageant was in the summer of 2018,” Lopez said. “I received a letter in the mail indicating that I had been referred by a friend [Sharma] and that I was invited to an open call...I went to the open call, participated in an interview and then was selected to compete in the state level pageant I competed the next year, and then I found out that there
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were modeling competitions you could compete in, so I tried them and found an interest in modeling.” Although there are many similarities between pageants and modeling, such as having shared participants, there are also differences. Modeling focuses on appearances and selling a product, and pageants build public speaking and performance skills. “Pageants are a little bit different from modeling, but give you those skills to be able [model],” Sharma said. “In pageants, it’s more you’re competing for a title or a crown.” Senior Hannah Clark started modeling in early 2020, but her career was put on pause with the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. She is inspired to keep modeling by trying to change the industry. “The industry is changing every single day with being more inclusive,” Clark said. “That’s something that I want, the industry to be like a hundred percent
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inclusive.” Lopez is also inspired to change the industry, both for herself and others. “I’m a 5’2” MexicanAmerican and am proud to be a petite runway model,” Lopez said. “I also became a model to bring more diversity to the industry. Nowadays, there is definitely more diversity in the modeling world, but I want to continue to make it a fact that you do not have to fit a certain stereotype to become a model.” One of the reasons that Sharma enjoys going to pageants is creating bonds with the pageant community. Pageants tend to have a similar group of participants, which creates a sisterhood among the members. “Everybody is so supportive,” Sharma said. “Everyone is so helpful around there. I think it’s just a great atmosphere, and that is why I love 2 going back.” While pageants are somewhat synonymous
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1. During the International United Paegant, sophomore Vani Sharma poses after winning the preteen title in 2020. Photo courtesy of Catherine Fiehn. 2. As sophomore Vani Sharma walks down the runway during New York Fashion Week, she models activewear and accessories for Marc Defang. Photo used with permission of Vani Sharma.
November 2021
