Sushant Kumar - Digital Imprint Is the Need of the Hour and So Is Personal Branding (International Model & Fashion Influencer From India)

Always be mindful of your thoughts and your feelings as our thoughts are magnetic and have a frequency and when they go into the universe as vibrations they attract like thoughts of the same frequency and it all comes back to the source - You.

1. Tell us about your background and journey.

I'm an ACCA (International CA) by Qualification and I used to work in PriceWaterhouse Coopers (PwC) as an auditor. I loved my office and colleagues as I’m a people’s person but I just hated the nature of my work. It was very clerical and monotonous and lacked creativity and innovation.

After PwC, I started working as a freelance financial consultant for ex-pats in Delhi NCR and got absorbed by one of my American clients in the organization Cognitive Consultancy into leadership programs and training.

The job was really fancy, well paid, had international travel and conferences, and dealing with high profile people from the corporate and education industry from all across the world.

I couldn’t have asked for a better job but at the end of the day, I was living some1 else’s dream at the cost of my own. My fascination and passion always lied in something more creative and artistic.

I love facing the camera and I love getting clicked wearing trendy and fashionable clothes. And who doesn’t like recognition and praises so Modelling was something that gave me a high like no other thing?

2. How did you become a model and reach this stage?

I got a lot of guidance from my mentor, my brother, and my business partner - Dinesh Mohan (Silver fox Model & Bollywood actor), invested in a good portfolio and started applying to agencies and casting directors.

I and him now have our own production agency - DMSK Fashion (Dinesh Mohan Sushant Kumar) and we help aspiring models to be launched in the fashion industry by making portfolio shoots for them.

3. What is your opinion of body image created by the media and how hard is it to put up with it?

I feel it’s very essential for us to feel good about our respective bodies as that very strongly affects our mental health and all other aspects of our lives. We should either accept it and be happy and if not we should take action to change it.

It’s always about OUR feeling - what and how we feel about our bodies whether slim, curvy, tall, or short and not as validation from others. Yes we all love compliments and attention or I should say most do, but it should never be a validation. 

4. How important is social media validation in your profession?

Social media should never be a form of ‘validation in any way. It surely boosts your profile as a model and gets you collaborations, brands, and designers and also helps you in model spotting by scouts and agencies. Digital imprint is the need of the hour and so is personal branding.

If you are a strong personal brand you can take your Modelling career from being an ‘everyday model’ to a showstopper or a celebrity model with lucrative commercials and campaigns.

5. How can one take care of their mental health in this high-pressure glamorous field? 

Yes, there is a constant high pressure being a model with you being judged on your body and looks at all times and expected to stand out in the crowd being a model. I honestly enjoy this pressure though. 

But also which profession doesn’t have pressures and who doesn’t have mental health issues these days. But my mental health is really really good by God’s grace and in one of my interviews with a famous Italian psychotherapist in Delhi - Mariella Zanoletti she shared that she has seen many people and clients in her life but she has never come across a person as happy and high vibed all the times like me. My faith in God and my belief in Him keeps me happy and positive all the time.

Also, I practice the Law of Attraction on a daily basis in my life, invest my time in meditation, and practice affirmations and various LOA techniques such as scripting, gratitude journal, and visualizations every day.

I even conducted a workshop on Law of attraction last month and got an amazing response from people and the testimonials they shared with me about the miraculous changes they experienced in their lives after the workshop on applying my tips and practices in their daily lives.

Check out the testimonials on my Instagram handle  - sk_dapper_alpha_united ; 

Highlights - ‘Testimonials’ 

Currently, I am also conducting a 21 Days Positivity program with my clients to infuse positivity in their lives and helping them in manifesting their dreams and desires of life using the Law of attraction.

It’s always all about growing together and when we grow together attaining our dreams we become better and more understanding persons and consequently, the universe also becomes a better place to live in.

It’s a win-win for all. A link to both my programs can be found on the link in my Instagram Bio. So grateful to God for creating this beautiful universal law called the Law of attraction. And for me, the glory always goes to God.

6. What are some of your upcoming projects?

Well, I’m not supposed to name them as brands and designers like to maintain secrecy about upcoming campaigns. But I do have certain projects lined up that get me really excited.

I’ve recently signed up with another Modelling agency in my city apart from being represented by Panther models agency in Europe. Modeling in Europe is my eventual goal and dream and I know I will get there by God’s grace.

7. Do you have any tips for people who want to join this field?

Yes, you should be aware of the various types of Modelling - Fashion Modelling, commercial Modelling, plus size Modelling,  Silver Fox Modelling (Mature Modelling), fitness Modelling, child Modelling, promotion Modelling, fit Modelling and many others. 

There are almost 15 kinds of Modelling and the Modelling industry is on a progressive path where designers and brands are looking for models with diverse ages, sizes, complexions, and looks. The old days of ‘traditional looking models’ is gone and the industry is open to diversified looks models.

Invest in a good portfolio and don’t spend money on any other thing. Don’t pay to get casted or for work or for any agency to be shortlisted. It’s all fake. You never are required to pay for a genuine casting.

Once you have a good portfolio you should have the contacts of genuine casting directors and production agencies where you could circulate your pictures or else you get stuck after having a portfolio shoot. 

I and my business partner and friend Dinesh Mohan do portfolio shoots for aspiring models and also then help them getting launched by sharing legit contacts and numbers from the industry.

Modeling is fun and Modelling has a high and it should all be enjoyed rather than taking pressure and get sucked into it. Wishing all the readers all the very best in life and please always remember the power of your thoughts and beliefs.

We attract what we think and what we believe.  Like attracts like - The Law of attraction. So always be mindful of your thoughts and your feelings as our thoughts are magnetic and have a frequency and when they go into the universe as vibrations they attract like thoughts of the same frequency and it all comes back to the source - You.

So please think positive and about your dreams at all times and they shall manifest. Believe in yourself and the plan God holds for you ❤️

Would love to connect with you all on my insta handle - sk_dapper_alpha_united 

Sushant Kumar - International Model | Fashion Influencer

Interviewed By: Nishad Kinhikar