Areeba Habib sounds off on runway politics

The young model says senior models outstay their welcome.

KARACHI:

Areeba Habib may be 20 years old, but she speaks with the confidence of a veteran in the modelling industry. A new face in the Pakistani modelling industry, it appears she may also have the thick skin this sphere requires, as well as the mind to adapt to its incredibly steep learning curve.

During a tête-à-tête at Café Flo, she talks about the struggles a girl has to face in a Pakistani society where the very word ‘model’ is taboo. “It is very tough for girls,” she begins. “There are lobbies working and friends who help each other a lot in this field. However, there are also those that encourage you.”

She adds that a model has to undergo a constant learning process in the initial phase of her modelling career, and for weathering through that one needs to stand ones ground. “If someone scolds you about your runway walk, don’t just freak out and start crying – that’s not going to work! No one has the patience for it. You should keep in mind that it is part of your grooming and stay put.”

Areeba also believes that the perception of the modelling industry is taking a step in the right direction and draws hope from this development. “Times have changed a great deal. People are now more willing to send their girls into this industry. I see this as a good sign.” She is currently pursuing her Bachelors in Fashion and Business from the Asian Institute of Fashion Design. “The initial phase is very difficult for a model. The majority of the designers will only give you unpaid projects for at least a year,” she says while adding that she takes this in her stride.

Modelling – a predatory field?

Though it has been relatively smooth sailing for her so far, Areeba does think that the more experienced models are unpredictable when it comes to punctuality. “It is a known fact that senior models always come in late for fashion shows, while the younger ones end up [bearing the brunt of it and] running into arguments with designers. Both of these are not good situations,” she says.

She deals with this issue by trying to steer clear of tricky situations. “Cat fights do happen and quite often the point of contention is when someone’s assigned outfit gets changed, which prompts jealousy amongst co-workers. Seniors try to avoid the junior lot and in the process forget that the juniors are in a learning phase. It is better to stay away from all these politics and lying low, while avoiding feelings of jealousy at the same time,” she advises. Despite having support from senior models including Iraj Manzoor, Nadia Hussain and Rabya Chaudhry, Areeba feels that there is less unity among models from Karachi than those from Lahore.

She believes that whatever one does away from the public eye is one’s own matter. “When we are on the ramp, we are there to work and that is all,” she says. “If somebody takes drugs it is part of their lifestyle [outside of their professional life]. Why should one interfere in other people’s life and condemn their personal choices?” she questions.

She denies the assumption that a model has to transform herself into a social butterfly in order to be the complete package and plays it safe instead. She says, “Going to parties is plain bulls*** – [its the] same faces, same songs and same DJs. I only show up at post-fashion week parties. I strongly avoid private parties and random people.”

Perhaps even more so than every other field, Areeba says modelling has a shelf life and that one should make the most of it while they can but not overstay their welcome. She says that there were some models in the past, like Zoella and Bibi, who garnered a great amount of respect in the industry and wisely bid farewell to the field well in time. “One should leave the field of modelling within a period of 15 years maximum. Otherwise, people start to get tired of you. How can the younger lot get a chance if you refuse to budge?”

Published in The Express Tribune, November 15^th, 2013.

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