In 1964, payment for a ramp model per show was a measly Rs. 150- Rs250. In 2011, the figures have reached the sky with payments for a show being Rs. 45000-50000. To begin with modelling was not a profession. It was just a hobby. Those who modelled held full-time jobs. They were drawn from the Parsi and Anglo-Indian communities. Choreographers doubled up as designers. Fashion shows featured the latest fabrics created by top mills in India such as Bombay Dyeing, Simplex, Khatau, Tata Textiles and Binny.

The reigning ramp queens were Pamela King, Shirley Kennedy, Erica Lal, Laila Mehta, Parveez Rustomjee ( now Agrawal ), Zarine Katrak ( wife of actor Sanjay Khan), Iona Pinto Vaz and Katayun Baxter.

In the mid-60s, the ramp models were the late Persis Khambatta, Caroline King, Shobha Rajadhyaksha ( new De ), Marcel and Lise Jones, Sheila Jones, Salome Aaron and the late Anjali Mendes ( Pierre Cardin’s muse ).

The 70s and 80s had names such as Anita Reddy, Veena Prakash, and the Bredmeyer sisters- Indira, Anna and Ulrika.

The Ensemble opened first fashion store in India, and with that from 1987, the era of high fashion designers started. The curves were replaced by tall and slinky models like Nayanika Chatterjee, Madhu Sapre, Shymoli Verma, Achala Sachdev, Marielou Philips, Svetlana Casper and Mehr Jessia.

Lubna Adam, a choreographer and model trainer, walked on the ramp for top designers between 1983-91 and modelled for Vimal, Raymond and Kodak. As a beginner, she drew Rs.250 per show. She was paid Rs.10000 per show when she left. Achala Sachdev, now a choreographer, in her days between 1990-2000 received Rs. 15000 per show. She was the winner of the Navy Queen contest too. She was a Pan Am air hostess. She also acted in the film Kamasutra.

In the 60s, 70s and 80s, models could hardly live on their modelling assignment’s earnings. In 2000, the Fashion Weeks arrived. Models have now become independent professionals.The top names in the business charge Rs. 45000-Rs. 50000 per show. The top names today are Candice Pinto, Carol Gracias, Sonal Rawat, Kavita Karaiyat, Binal and Pia Trivedi, Joe Mathews, Sanae Shaikh, Himadri and Rachel.

Anchal Kumar ,the winter of the Gladrags Mega Model (1999 ) is very much in demand. Sucheta Sharma too is much in demand. Sucheta Sharma too is much in demand. Reha Sukheja is the first runner up of the Miss Universe India 2010 contest organised by Sushmita Sen. Anjum Fakih hails from Saudi Arabia. Sheela Tiruchi is an established model in the fashion world.