Why Neelam Gill is a model like no other
A bespectacled girl with braces is the last person anyone would imagine will end up on the ramp. Neelam Gill’s case wasn’t any different either. Being a not so popular girl in school, Neelam herself never imagined that her future lies on the runway. When she was scouted at the age of 14, the teen kept it a secret for fear of being ridiculed by her peers.
Flashforward 2015, the 20-year-old dusky beauty is one of the biggest names in the modelling industry having walked for Burberry, Alexa Chung, Pixie Geldof, Kanye West, etc. She is the first ever female model of Indian origin to become the face of Burberry.
Neelam Gill was born Neelam Johal in Coventry, UK in an Indian family. Her grandparents are from Punjab, who later settled in UK. Her parents never stood against her wish; all they wanted her to do was to not let her studies affected by modelling. Neelam decided to go full-time once she finished her school.
“There was a joke about me in school: “Oh, Neelam’s a model—she’s a foot model! Maybe she can be a hand model!” – Neelam revealed in an interview to ELLE earlier this year.
Neelam’s name has been linked with Zayn Malik – former member of One Direction, however, there has been no official confirmation regarding their relationship.
In one of her first campaign for Burberry shot by Mario Testino, she was made look darker with spray tan which sparked some controversies. In one of her photos that appeared on French Revue De Modes magazine, Neelam looks quite different with spray tanned skin.
Although Neelam is one of the few successful non-white models in the industry, she believes that fashion has to further broaden its horizon to include models of other ethnic background, given that countries like China and Asia offer good markets for big designers.
Neelam comes across as a mature girl for her age, who is not ashamed to open up about her insecurities. She has admitted to battling depression, and wants to utilise her fame to inspire all those who have to deal with body insecurities.
Recently, she teamed up with Harnaam Kaur, the 23-year-old woman with facial hair, considered an inspirational figure for being bold to embrace her condition and challenge the societal norms. The duo have come up with a video on bullying which has been uploaded on You Tube.