Its a womans world

While the fashion peeps certainly know how to rock ‘n’ roll when they hit that ramp, it seems in this case, girls really do have all the fun. Though it sounds like a fun femme proposition, considering the ‘alpha male’ does tend to dominate most scenarios, one does wonder whether the modelling circuit is one of those few fields where ‘the superior sex’ is in fact, the underdog.The numbers carve a very sorry figure indeed, as fashion choreographer, Karun Raman, admits, “Guys get paid 40 per cent less than women when it comes to ramp shows. It’s sad because in my opinion, the male models are better looking than the ladies.”From textiles to trinkets, diapers to dinner ware, if you think about it, even the ads on TV simply could not do without the ladies. Ganesh Gurung, a modelling co-ordinator and choreographer, says, “The fashion industry belongs to women, not men. And this is the case anywhere in the world. Observe the line up in a fashion show. The ratio of women to men is usually 6:2 or 8:4.”So are guys getting the raw end of the deal? Well, some actually seem rather chivalrous when presented with the facts. Azhar Joseph (26) who has been modelling for a few years now, points out, “I think women do have to exert themselves more. For a show that starts at 8 pm, their make-up will probably start at 4 pm and then they have to manage walking styles that suit different kinds of garments as well.”Finally, a man who understands the pressures of a mini skirt! “So yes, I do think that women deserve to get paid more,” he adds. On the flip side, Azhar reminisces a touch ruefully, “We were doing a calendar shoot once, and the girls got offered hotel rooms — while we were expected to wait in the lobby. So I waited for a while and then decided to leave.”Perhaps, it’s by the simple virtue of being a woman, that the ladies get offered these perks. After all, one cannot implicate a bias on the part of the organisers, if only the female models get a ride home with the hotel cabbie. However, despite a majority saying that they get treated fairly equal to women, there are some ‘basic necessities’ that should be a mandate for both sexes.Azhar says, “For small shows, sometimes guys just have to make to do with a small space cluttered with wires and wooden rods, definitely no mirror.” And we thought the field was all glamour. Humph!While some claim to do it for the passion, and others with dreams of Tinsel Town, there are those that have no qualms admitting upfront, that at the end of the day, male or female — the green notes are well worth your while.  Ajith Menon, a fashion consultant with multiple profiles, in the industry for over a decade now says, “While the going rate for a ramp show for male models is between Rs 4-5,000, they do get opportunities to double that pay scale while shooting for a print campaign or a TV commercial.”