Archive · 17 Aug 2025
Underpaid Models and Bollywood's Fashion Week Dominance
Imagine models working at fashion shows.
They often get paid very little, sometimes only enough to survive, and have to pay for their travel and food.
Meanwhile, famous stars get paid a lot of money to walk in the same shows.
This makes models feel like they are not valued.
People in the industry are talking about how to make things fairer.
Some ideas are paying models more and covering their expenses.
It is tough, but some models are finding ways to succeed by using social media and being creative.
Models are often underpaid and lack support for expenses, while celebrity showstoppers earn significantly more.
Designers prioritize celebrity showstoppers for their wider reach, often at the expense of models' pay.
Models express concerns about exploitation, including unpaid work in exchange for exposure, which does not pay bills.
Industry experts suggest solutions like minimum pay, expense coverage, and a regulatory body for fair contracts.
Despite the challenges, some models are finding success through social media and creative endeavors.
- Who
- Models, designers, celebrities, and industry experts.
- What
- Models in the Indian fashion industry are underpaid and lack support compared to celebrity showstoppers.
- When
- The issues have been recently highlighted.
- Where
- Indian Fashion Industry
- Why
- To highlight unfair pay and working conditions for models and propose potential solutions for a fairer industry.
Models
Designers & Celebrities
Pay and Fairness
Models
Demand fair pay, expense coverage, and recognition for their work.
Designers & Celebrities
Focus on celebrity presence and high visibility; less concern for models' financial situations.
Value
Models
They believe models are treated like "coat hangers", while the celebrities walk the ramp with fanfare.
Designers & Celebrities
Industry needs celebrity involvement to increase brand awareness.
- Model Pay (per shift)
- Rs 10,000-20,000
- Celebrity Showstopper Pay
- Rs 5 lakh to 20 lakh (per walk)
- Influencer Insta post
- Rs 1 lakh +
- Proposed minimum model rate
- Rs 40,000 a day