From glossy magazine covers to high-profile runway events, the modelling industry in India may appear dazzling from the outside. But behind the glamour lies a less-discussed reality: low pay, long hours, and financial strain. Recently, model Roshni Sharma took to Instagram to share a candid take on what it's really like to work in this competitive field.
Check it out below:
'Models are getting paid 15K, 20K a day — and that’s it'
In her video, Sharma detailed the grind that comes with the job, saying, "models are being paid 15K, 20K a day and that's it," adding that this could mean "walking four shows or three shows maybe and being there for 12 hours, doing hair and makeup for every show. Paying their own travel and stay in the city. The food probably not, I don't know."
Calling for fair pay and industry standards
Sharma also stressed that accepting low-budget gigs doesn’t just affect one’s own paycheck; it also drives rates down across the industry. "When you say yes to a small budgeted any work, there are a lot of other people who are getting affected, disrespected because of you, and the whole market kind of goes down on that profession," she stated.
Sharma believes experienced models should demand at least Rs 40,000 a day for events like fashion weeks, with travel and stay covered. Consistently agreeing to lower rates, she warned, makes brands view models as stagnant and willing to accept anything offered.
'That reel is not going to put food on your plate neither on anybody’s plate.'
Sharma also warned against being swayed by promises of fame. "The biggest fashion week like India Couture Week or Lakme Fashion Week, are the highest media performing shows. Sometimes people budge down because of the fact that the booker tells them that they have the chance to go viral or have great potential to get famous. That reel is not going to put food on your plate neither on anybody’s plate."
High cost of staying 'runway ready'
Sharma also shed light on the personal investment required to maintain the industry’s demanding body standards, strict diets, fitness regimes, and overall wellness routines. Meanwhile, she pointed out, the brands reaping the benefits can earn hundreds of times what a model is paid for the same show.
Her message is clear: for the modelling profession to be sustainable in India, models must value their work, negotiate firmly, and resist the illusion that fame can replace fair pay.
