BHUBANESWAR: Two from Odisha have been selected to compete in the finale of ‘Max Fashion Icon India 2016’ audition of which was held by International fashion brand Max held here on Wednesday.
The auditions were held at the KILT Campus.
The sixth season of the event has already completed rounds in Indore, Ahmedabad and Pune.
Sreeja Chatterjee and Biswajit Rout won the Bhubaneswar leg and will compete for the final title at the national finale to take place in Mumbai. The contest will be held across cities to select the country’s young and aspiring models and to help them realise their dreams of becoming India’s next fashion icon.
Of 175 entries, 15 contestants including males and females were shortlisted and taken through grooming sessions to prepare them for the competitions.
Contestants at the event were appreciated by members of the jury. The judging panel at the event comprised actor Parvathy Omanakuttan, model-actor Pinky Pradhan and fashion or beauty pageant director and grooming expert Marc Robinson.
“Such beauty pageants are glamorous challenges, and we love them. Participating in such events requires personal grooming. Your personality changes as you realise your strengths and weaknesses and work towards improving yourself. I entered the modelling world through an MTV event and went to Mumbai. I was groomed by experts who have changed my life,” said Pinki Pradhan.
The motive of holding the event, according to groomer Marc Robinson, was to help aspiring models and actors realise their dreams.
“Aspirations in smart cities are big, and we are providing the opportunity to talented youngsters to come and get trained and groomed whether for the film industry, the television industry or fashion. Such events are very credible and safe, as participants are our responsibility. Many talent hunt programmes are here but what bewails to the winners is unknown. Here we ensure that winners get good opportunities and introduce them to directors and fashion experts.”
Parvathy, in turn, said there were few avenues for youngsters to showcase the talent and added that the “show gives them the right platform.”
National winners of the competition will get a cash prize and entry to a three-month diploma in acting at Anupam Kher’s Actor Prepares school for actors and 10-day dance training sessions at Terence Lewis professional training institute.