'The whole scene is not as unpleasant as many make it out to be'
Azra Mahmud, who had begun her career in mid-2001, is one such model. Winning the Best Look category in the You've Got The Look 2002 contest, she walked the path to fame and glamour through the sheer dint of hard work. 'I would go to Aarong, stand in front of Tupa's posters and just stare at them for hours,' recalls Azra. 'I think I had always wanted to be a model and be a part of the glamour world, ever since I was little. So I grabbed my chance when I saw an ad in the newspaper looking for models and went for an audition. To my surprise, I was actually trained under Tupa for that particular show. That's when it all started.'
Becoming a model, especially in our country, involves obstacles and unexpected situations. How did Azra grasp the bottlenecks in her stride? 'The first thing that I had to acknowledge was the fact that I did not have a height for a ramp model,' she said.
For all latest news, follow The Daily Star's Google News channel. 'But I have been watching FTV all my life, and knew how to sneak a perfect walk!' she joked. Azra recalls other glitches. In her words, 'My dad was totally against me modelling, even though I had convinced my mom. But I was very much determined to do it. At the end of the day, it was my decision and now my parents are happy with what I am doing.'
Currently, Azra anchors Sunsilk Apsara on NTV, which is shot at the popular Persona, a beauty salon for ladies. 'Now, I actually find my dad waiting around to watch my show every Monday night and it really makes me happy,' she added. Azra was also the choreographer of the You've Got The Look Contest this year. 'I remember someone obnoxiously pointing out to me, right after I had won the Best Look in 2002, that I would have to be in the 'good-books' or always keep the organisers happy if I wanted to win the title. This is an absolutely false statement that everyone seems to believe,' she maintains.
What really gets Azra all the attraction is her unconventional dark looks. 'Even in my short modelling career, I still get to hear the fact that I am not fair skinned, which is very strange, considering the fact that we are living in the 21st century!'
Being a model is something much more than wearing trendy outfits around slim bodies, exclaims Azra. 'It's a lot of hard work and needs a lot of patience,' she adds 'The whole scene is not as unpleasant as many make it out to be. Because of the unacceptable actions of a particular few, the whole community of models in Dhaka gets dirty looks,' she goes on. 'However, I think I have built my dreams here very well!'