Produced by: Her Studio New York

Interviewed by: Stephanie Rommelt

What kind of creative do you identify as?

I am a South Asian petite model, content creator, and marketer.

How did you start your career?

I started modeling during the pandemic as a creative outlet from work, styling my own shoots and handling everything from hair and makeup to creative direction. It helped me build confidence in front of the camera and explore a passion I had not fully tapped into. After the world opened up, I applied to a commercial modeling agency in Arkansas, but after six months without bookings, I learned they thought I was too short to model. Determined to prove them wrong, I researched everything about succeeding as a petite model—watching videos, listening to podcasts, and learning how to pose.

Being petite was not something I had ever felt insecure about—most South Asians are on the shorter side—but it fueled my drive to challenge industry norms.

Moving to New York was a long-time dream, and my savings during the pandemic allowed me to make it happen. I initially moved for a job in advertising and to be closer to my partner. At that moment, modeling in New York felt like a distant dream. Yet within two weeks of arriving, I booked my first gig for the F.R.I.E.N.D.S art exhibit, which solidified my decision to pursue modeling seriously.

Since then, I’ve juggled a full-time advertising career while navigating the modeling industry—networking, learning, and building a portfolio of diverse projects. Today, I’ve worked with national and global brands across beauty, fitness, and food, walked in New York and Paris Fashion Weeks, and signed with an agency.

What inspires you?

Number 1: My Parents
My parents have that classic immigrant story—they moved from India with barely anything, just to give me and my sister a better life. They sacrificed so much to make sure we had opportunities they didn’t. Both my mom and dad are entrepreneurs who paved their own way, and their drive inspires me every single day to go after my dreams and make a difference.

Number 2: The City
New York is just something else. Everyone here is chasing their dreams, and the creativity and energy are unmatched—it’s like the whole city is buzzing with ambition. It can be intense, though. The competition keeps me on my toes and pushes me out of my comfort zone. But even in those moments, I’m so grateful for my amazing support system—my family, my partner, and my friends—who always have my back.

What are some challenges you face breaking into the industry?

Runway presents an obvious challenge—most designers and shows require a minimum height of 5’9” for female models, automatically putting shorter models at a disadvantage. After three years in the industry, I’ve realized that the challenges extend beyond height and are intersectional with my South Asian heritage.

While many brands advertise inclusivity and claim body diversity, they often overlook two significant demographics: shorter women and South Asian consumers. This gap in representation is glaring and growing. I often have to resort to applying for castings seeking “ethnically ambiguous” models because specific calls for South Asian representation are so rare.

What’s even more perplexing is that this height requirement sometimes extends to beauty and hair campaigns—roles where only the shoulders up are featured. It’s a reminder of how deeply ingrained certain industry standards are, even when they don’t make sense for the job.

If you could tell your younger self one piece of advice, what would it be?

Keep doing exactly what you’re doing and never give up, because it’s going to put you on a path toward achieving dreams you didn’t even know you could have.

What are some special projects you’re currently working on or are coming soon?

I can’t talk about many of them, but I have lots of beauty and hair projects, as well as my first commercial, set to come out in Spring 2025. I am really, really excited to see them come to fruition! 🙂

What message do you want aspiring models to hear?

“You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take.” In modeling, so much comes down to personality and networking. Show up in rooms where you feel like you don’t belong, push past the imposter syndrome, and bring your most confident self. Show everyone why you deserve that gig.

This industry is all about the hustle, so don’t just focus on clients—build relationships with makeup artists, photographers, and stylists. Some of my most profitable gigs have come from these connections. They can open doors, offer advice, and often become great friends along the way.

Are there specific brands, designers, or projects you’d love to work with?

My biggest goal is to work with brands I use daily or grew up with. In particular, I’m passionate about beauty and hair, so collaborating with names like NYX, e.l.f., Makeup by Mario, Maybelline, Amika, Pantene, or Redken would be a dream.

I’m also focused on improving my commercial acting and posing skills to land more print and video campaigns in the coming year. One of my ultimate goals? Seeing myself on a poster in Target or Ulta by the end of 2025—or maybe even just a billboard in general, haha.

Connect with Alysha!

Instagram : @alyshakeyz