While Nicky Opheij first finishes her education before storming the fashion world, finalist Debbie Dhillon is in India for three months for modeling agency Touché Models. That it was a particularly good choice and that you don't have to win Holland's Next Topmodel to make it as a model, she shows every week in her pop-up blog.
WEEK 1
I had to get up at 5:00 AM to go to Schiphol. My family waved me off and from now on I'm on my own. My adventure in India is about to begin and I'm so curious about what awaits me...
Just before I left, it snowed in the Netherlands. Bye bye snowy Holland, here I come 32 degrees India. Off I went, into the plane. 9.5 hours away from a new life of which I have no idea what awaits me...
The Indian atmosphere started in the plane where I had an Indian dish for dinner. Luckily, I'm used to a bit from home, so I enjoyed the naan bread and rice with spinach.
I arrived in the middle of the night local time. It's four and a half hours later here, you should know. The first day immediately had a shoot for M.A.C Cosmetics on the schedule where I appeared as fresh and fruity as I could.
When I was doing some shopping in the afternoon with my apartment mates, I received a text saying that I was booked for an event from M.A.C. Another job in. I couldn't wait.
This is the day of M.A.C Cosmetics where I had to go early. On the way to the assignment, the road was still quiet and the sun was just rising, such a beautiful view.
The location was the Taj Mahal Hotel. I felt like a little princess in that hotel palace that day. I could live like this, haha.
Together with three other models, I was made up according to the latest looks from M.A.C. All the important beauty journalists from all the magazines are present and will report on this day in their magazines. I really hope they mention my name!
We were very well taken care of. We were made up in a fantastic hotel room and were served the most beautiful snacks, like carrot and melon roses. Almost too beautiful to eat. While I was having fun with my new model friends, I got a call from my agency that I was booked by Grazia India. You can imagine I went completely crazy then.
After twelve hours, the day was over and I went home very happy.
Today was a relatively quiet day. I had a casting (where I was taken by a private driver from the agency), and then I went to work out in the gym.
Today the shoot for the March issue of Grazia was on the schedule. That is, along with the September Issue, the most important fashion issue. Of course, I can't show too much (that comes in March) but it was a great day.
After the shoot, I went to work out for a bit and then I changed for a party from Grazia where all the models from my agency were invited...
So it was really a Grazia day for me where I saw the crew from the shoot again at the party and also met a lot of new, fun people.
My dreams are starting to come true here in India. I HAVE A SHOOT FOR VOGUE INDIA TODAY. Sorry, I just had to write that in capital letters.
I'll send you a sneak peek of my look. Something with shoes with a red sole...
Because I really couldn't choose what to take during lunch, I just piled everything on my plate. Everything here is so delicious.
After the shoot, I went to visit my big friend the parrot in the gym again. He is really my chat buddy. That can only happen in India, a parrot as a gym pet.
I found it a perfect first week, what about you? More news next week from warm, busy, and vibrant Mumbai.
