Top Ten Indian Female Models of All Time

Models are not like ordinary people. They are far more than them because of their direct connection with art work and fashion. With the help of models, designers can represent their visions throughout the world. Whatever model does is called modeling. It is totally different from other types of public performance such as an acting, dancing or mime artist.

Modeling is a big industry in India and models are not less popular than actress. Perhaps the easiest way of making entrance into the film industry is to becoming a top model.

Here, I have made a list of top 10 Indian female models of all time. I have selected the models based on their performance on the ramp, glamour, fitness etc. If you find any problem about this list then give your own opinion on the comment section.

Noyonika Chatterjee:

There is no need to give any further description about Noyonika Chatterjee. She is widely regarded as one of the best female models of all time in India. For her contribution and dominance on the ramp for over a decade, she earned the title of ramp-queen.

For her dark body color, she is often compared with the British model, Naomi Campbell, and called the Naomi Campbell of India. In 1988, she got her first modeling offer and was flooded with assignments.

When she started modeling, there was demand on light-skinned model. However, she became one of the first models to break this trend. Still now, she is remembered in the hearts of her fans for her warm complexion and dusky beauty.

She is not working on the ramp now. Instead, she keeps herself busy in training new models and choreographs beauty contestants. Some of the Bollywood actresses she had trained are Lara Dutta, Priyanka Chopra and Dia Mirza.

Nina Manuel:

With her dusky beauty, Noyonika Chatterjee created a trend in the modeling industry and became one of the first models to break the stereotype of light-skinned. However, her new trend was followed by a number of models. One of the most popular faces of this new wave is Nina Manuel.

Nina Manuel will thank her mother for becoming such a popular face in the modeling industry. Her mother asked her to participate in Femina Look of the Year contest in 1995. It was the beginning of her career and after that she didn’t have to look back.

She was first seen in the San Miguel advertisement as the sexy waitress. She has also campaigned for Levi’s, Coke, Indian Express and Kodak. Besides appearing in TV adds, she has worked in music videos with Baba Sehgal, Remo and Anaida.

She has also appeared in a couple of shows- Late Night V and After Hrs on different TV channels. For her blessed looks and potential, she is considered as one of the most celebrated models in India.

Sheetal Mallar:

Another dusky beauty who deserves to be in the list is Sheetal Mallar. Discovered by the photographer Gautam Rajadhyaksha for Danabhai Jewelers, she came at the centre of public attention after winning the Femina Look of the Year in 1994 beating Madhu Sapre. In the same year, she was placed she was also placed among the 12 finalists in the Elite supermodel contest.

She has campaigned for Maybelline, McDowells, LG Electronics, Gold Flake, Grasim Suitings, Motorola etc. She works as the face of Maybelline cosmetics.

After staying at the peak of her career for many years, she bid farewell to the ramp modeling.

Madhu Sapre:

Madhu Sapre is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful models in India. She is the former Miss Universe participant. She represented her country at the 1992 Miss Universe pageant. In this beauty contest, she became the second runners-up in this contest.

She will be remembered for her daring task that kept big contribution in the formation of a revolutionary change in the perception models in India. She took a nude photo with model Milind Soman with whom she was briefly engaged. It was not an easy task for her do in a country like India. She is said to be one of the most daring models.

Diandra Soares:

Diandra Soares is blessed with versatility. She is an Indian model, anchor and actress. She won the Miss Bombay beauty contest in 1995. After winning this prestigious title, she pursued her career in modeling and became one of the leading models of the ramp.

She surprised the whole world with her bald head appearance. Perhaps she was the first model to be ever seen on the runway on bald head. It was obviously shocking but her bald head gesture put her into the limelight and helped her to get fame.

According to Huffington post, she is the most beautiful bald model ever seen.

Bipasha Basu:

Bipasha Basu is a well-known figure in Hindi film industry. She is considered as one of the most sought after actresses of her time. She has got huge popularity and fame with her acting skill and dark body color. For her bold roles in Indian cinema, she has established herself as a "Sex Symbol".

Before making her entrance to film industry, she was a top ranked model. Suggested by Mehr Jessia Rampal, she participated in the Godrej Cinthol Supermodel Contest in 1996 and won the title. It was the beginning of her career and she never looked back as she went on to become one of the most sought after models of her time.

As she got bored in modeling, she pursued her career in acting and there she got equal success.

Nethra Raghuraman:

Hailed from South India, she has become a well-known name on the ramp for almost a decade. She also made her appearance on silver screen also and acted in a number of films. Some of her notable films are Thakshak, Bhopal Express, Avgat and Inteqam. Despite getting good response as an actress, she never left modeling and fashion.

Nethra Raghuraman participated in the Look of the Year in 1997 and won the title. In 2000, she won the Best female newcomer title at Star Screen Awards. She participated at the TV show, Khataron Ke Khiladi, hosted by Bollywood actor, Akshay Kumar and was the winner.

Ujjwala Raut:

Ujjwala Raut is the first model who represented not only India but also the Asian modeling industry in the international arena. She walked the ramp for Roberto Cavalli, Dolce and Gabbana, Gucci, Valentino, Oscar de la Renta and Victoria's Secret.

Anaita Shroff Adjania quoted her as “the perfect model” while Atul Kasbekar said about her, “One of the finest models we have produced in this country”.

She came at the centre of attention in 1996 after becoming the winner of Femina Look of the Year at the age of 17. In Elite Model Look of the Year in Nice, she was among the top 15 contestants.

Carol Gracias:

Whenever we think about any model with beautiful complexion walking on the ramp then the name that comes to our mind is Carol Gracias. She is well known for her wardrobe malfunction that she experienced during the 2006 Lakme India Fashion Week in Mumbai. However, she showed her professionalism handling the wardrobe quickly and completed the walk. Still now, her attendance at any show adds class to it.

She won the India's L'Oreal/Elite "Look of the year" title. Besides walking on the ramp, she also made short appearance in the movie Being Cyrus. She was seen in the music video for the song Right Here Right Now from the movie Bluffmaster.

Carol also participated in the Indian version of Celebrity Big Brother, Bigg Boss, and she became the runner-up. She also took part in the second level of the khatron ke khiladi.

Jesse Randhawa:

Jesse is also known as the runway tigress. Her magnanimous presence at the ramp overshadows all others. Married to choreographer Sandeep Soparkar, Jesse has also evolved to become a great dancer. Modelling or dancing, Jesse knows how to do it best.

Jesse Randhawa, who is known as runway tigress, is well known for her different look that made her separate from the typical Indian women models when she started her career as model in the 90s.

At her time when models were seen with long hair, fair complexion and light eyes, she made a breakthrough appearing in short hair. Designers were not accustomed to her different look. So at the beginning of her career, she had to struggle a lot to find enough work to prolong her career in the modeling industry.

With her generous presence at the ramp, she outshines all others. She also acted in some Hindi movies. Apart from modeling, she is known for her dancing.