Aastha Agarwal’s journey as an immigrant model is a captivating tale of ambition and courage. Leaving her hometown in India for the bustling streets of New York City, she embraced both the opportunities and challenges that came her way, ultimately making her mark in the global fashion scene. Her journey reflects not only her passion for modeling but also her resilience in the face of cultural adjustments and industry challenges. As an immigrant, she has faced unique challenges and triumphed, all while staying true to her roots.
Excerpts
What initially motivated you to transition from studying business to pursuing a career in modeling?
I always felt a sense of emptiness within me, as though there was a void, a desire to make my life meaningful. My highly sensitive nature allowed me to experience each sensation and feeling deeply, so whenever I switched on music and performed, I felt a release from the deep emotions I had. This propelled me towards modeling; every assignment was freedom for me, and self-expression gave a lot of meaning to my life.
I’m not a straight-sized model and do not believe in being excessively skinny, which made it harder for top agencies to sign me.
New York is known for its competitive fashion industry. Can you describe some of the challenges you faced?
My biggest challenge was my reserved nature and sensitivity. Additionally, I’m not a straight-sized model and do not believe in being excessively skinny, which made it harder for top agencies to sign me. I remember a reputable agency offered me a contract, measured my hips, and told me to lose 5 inches when I had recovered from anorexia. I made it a point to maintain a healthy body weight as beauty comes from health. Also, I did not have the typical Indian look which Westerners have stereotyped, nor was I aggressive, my natural soft nature and shyness definitely didn’t translate well into the market in the beginning.
Moving from India to New York is a significant transition. Can you share some of the cultural adjustments you had to make?
I feel like in India, I am under the protection of my parents, so I’m able to live peacefully and don’t need to be aggressive to prove myself. While in New York, the culture is very individualistic, and while I have met some genuine deep people, most connections are shallow, and people live a very outward life of events and partying every night. People assume I’m snobbish; I’m just very selective and reserved as I have high expectations from relations.
While New York is generally very positive for immigrants, the cultural difference is a huge concern here.
How did your experiences in India shape your perspective and aspirations?
My family always propagated the study of arts, whether literary or performing. My mother made it a point to send me to Bharatnatyam, Indian Classical music, and belly dance classes since I was 6 years old. Every time I connected to the emotions of the music, I felt deep fulfillment. I feel like my family’s involvement in holistic development and my exposure to the performing arts from a young age propelled me.
As an immigrant, were there specific challenges you encountered in pursuing a career in the fashion industry in the United States?
As an immigrant, I had to face a lot of struggle trying to balance my personal and professional life. While New York is generally very positive for immigrants, the cultural difference is a huge concern here.
Were there any moments during your journey as an immigrant and model in New York that made you reflect on your identity or heritage in a new light?
I have always stayed true to myself and my roots. My upbringing was very strong, and Indian culture has a lot of inherent wisdom that I imbibed earlier on. While I grew up in an Anglicized culture in Mumbai and Pune, I am still very Indian at heart. My traditional Indian values kept me grounded and protected me while New York’s influence on me made me more independent.
