Tall, dark and stunning

<div class="section1"><div class="Normal">IN Chandigarh on Saturday Vidisha Pavate-Centofanti created quite a stir at the Rock Garden where she ramp walked city designer Dimpy Gujral''s line. Let''s get up close and personal with the international model.<br /><br /><span style="" font-weight:="" bold="">Name:</span> Vidisha Pavate-Centofanti <br /><br /><span style="" font-weight:="" bold="">Claim(s) to fame:</span> Ad campaigns for Santiago, Deepak Saris, Vama.Has modelled in Paris for top names like Dior, Galliano, Issey Miyake.<br /><br /><span style="" font-weight:="" bold="">Jumpstart moment:</span> Ford Super Model winner from India in 1996<br /><br /><span style="" font-weight:="" bold="">Modelling gurus:</span> Bangal-ore fashion icon Prasad Bidappa discovered me and groomed me. Model Mehr Jesia was another big support who became a friend and a mentor. She believed in me more than I did.<br />Initial hiccups: My not so typical pretty Indian looks. I am not fair, don''t have blue eyes and pink lips. I am tall, almost gawky and have dark lips. Though it took the modelling circuit a while to get used to my looks, in hindsight, I feel my unconventional features helped me at least in getting international assignments. <br /><br /><span style="" font-weight:="" bold="">Ramp is my greatest love:</span> To me, each show is like a new show. Just as no desig-ner likes to repeat a design and treats each show as a challenge, models also have to find newer ways to walk the ramp. I am always nervous before going on ramp! <br /><br />Naomi Campbell: She is my favourite model and I''ve also worked with her but when people compare us, I get really pissed off. <br /><br />Marriage: I am married to an Italian-Australian photographer Darren Centofanti. He''s the first person I ever dated and he really pursued me. Since the beginning, we''ve had a certain connection.<br /><br />Bollywood: Would like to give it a shot provided I get exceptional offers. I am not desperate to make it to Bollywood and won''t grab the first role that comes my way. I''ve been getting offers from Mani Ratnam but at that time I wasn''t inclined to act. Now I am willing but maybe don''t get any offers! <br /><br />After ramp, what: I think I have about four-five years of modelling left in me. After which I would settle in Australia with my husband and would like to pursue Business Management and Banking since I''ve done B Com and MBA. I would also like to plan a family and am looking forward to a slower, easier and boring existence ahead! <br /><br />Indian models going international: I think we do quite well internationally and earn a fair deal of appreciation. In the long run, it''s the Indian who chooses not to stick it out in foreign land. If we can live without Mummy ke haath ka khaana and can do the running around, we can make it big. <br /><br />Exploitation, what''s that: I don''t know what they are talking about. I''ve never faced it as when I started, modelling was a very select thing. Now that it''s become almost like a career option and there is so much competition maybe there is a bit of undercutting.</div> </div>