Me, The Change: Meet Sangeeta Gharu, a Model Who Dares to be Dark

Cameraperson: Abhishek Ranjan and Sumit Badola
Video Editor: Prashant Chauhan

Producer: Zijah Sherwani

‘Me, The Change’ is The Quint’s campaign for the first-time women voter who has an achievement to her name, however big or small. As part of the campaign, The Quint is accepting nominations for these young women achievers and showcasing their stories. If you know someone who fits the bill, let us know by emailing to [e-mail].

Are we obsessed with being ‘gora’ or fair? Can your skin colour become an impediment in pursuing a career or chasing your dream? Unfortunately, in many cases, the answer is ‘yes’.

But 23-year-old model Sangeeta Gharu was not ready to accept this bias. She says she’s perfectly okay with her skin colour and wants others to be comfortable as well, especially those who work in the Indian fashion industry. She likes to call herself “dark and deadly.”

Sangeeta was born into a conservative Marwari family in Jodhpur. Her father, a cook in the Indian Air force, wanted his daughter to become an Army officer but she had other plans. By the time she was in Class 8, she had decided to become a model.

Sangeeta was her school’s sports captain and used to play basket ball at the national level. She was also an NCC cadet.

In college, she juggled between studies and fashion shows. After that, she decided to shift to Jaipur to pursue professional modelling even though her parents were against it.

“My parents did not speak to me for a few months. My sister used to send me money when I needed. I was facing so many things alone, but all that made me strong and bold in life.”

Sangeeta Gharu, Model

Today, Gharu is a model based out of Delhi. She has walked the ramp for over 30 fashion labels, but her journey from Rajasthan to the ramp wasn’t easy.

Her dark complexion made things a lot tougher for her, she says.

“I was told that the industry is not accepting me so easily because I was ‘kaali’ (dark). Other girls who auditioned with me got work very easily. At the Lakme Fashion Week, a stylist dropped the dress and did not let me walk the ramp. He did the same in another show. Clearly, there was a pattern where I was being denied to walk the ramp because I was dark skinned.”

Sangeeta Gharu, Model

Sangeeta loves applying make-up but says that fairness creams are not her thing. She’s versatile and can easily transform into glamorous avatars.

She will vote for the first time in the 2019 general elections.

‘Teach Children to Accept Diversity’

“Our schools should teach students to think logically rather than bookish knowledge. Moral science should be beyond kindness and cleanliness. Children should be taught not to judge their fellow beings on their colour and looks, and accept diversity. It’s at this age that their minds are groomed into becoming a good human being.”

Sangeeta Gharu, Model

Do you know an achiever like Sangeeta Gharu? Nominate her for The Quint’s ‘Me, the Change’ campaign below!