A big plus : The Tribune India

Join Whatsapp Channel

A big plus

Why is it that a plus-size woman gets a role only in comedy films? So that people can laugh at her? These are some of the questions that have always troubled Bishamber Das, one of the first plus-size South Asian models, who wants to make moves in the Punjabi industry next.

A big plus

ON THE RAMP: Bishamber Das(centre) is flanked by contestants of Ms Plus Size North India-Season II



Mona

Why is it that a plus-size woman gets a role only in comedy films? So that people can laugh at her? These are some of the questions that have always troubled Bishamber Das, one of the first plus-size South Asian models, who wants to make moves in the Punjabi industry next.

A judicial magistrate in UK, Bishamber got into modelling some four years back and there has been no stopping her. Unfortunately, the society is yet to accept women of different sizes or colour. And, she is out to challenge the stereotype and make place for women just like her!

Stormy past

In Chandigarh, on Friday, as an ambassador for Ms Plus Size North India-Season II, she opened up on her past – growing up with an alcoholic father, domestic violence, which led her to seek solace in food. “Many in my position turn to alcohol or drugs. I couldn’t because my mother was already struggling with it due to my dad; the only thing I could abuse was food.” When her weight grew, bullying was the order of the day. “It was like nobody could see past my physical appearance,” shares Bishamber.

A judicial career in place, she decided to address it all by competing in a beauty pageant. “The size-zero models would go, ‘Ae moti aithe ki kar rayi hai’and I would feel like giving up, but I managed to stick to my goal.”

Today, not only does she have plenty of shows around the world, but fashion brands send her outfits because she has a massive following. “Plus-size fashion is a million pounds industry now,” she says.

Balancing act

Eight years into judiciary and four in modelling, she’s been managing both worlds well. Bishamber is happy to inspire women who don’t fit the accepted standards of ‘beauty’. Despite being in the modelling industry, Bishamber dresses rather conservatively. “Maybe that’s where I lag behind my competitors but I would stick to the culture I grew up in,” says the girl born and raised in UK to a Punjabi mother and Malaysian father.

[email protected]

Top News

Chief Judicial Magistrate's court in UP's Banda orders judicial inquiry into death of gangster-politician Mukhtar Ansari

UP court orders judicial probe into gangster-politician Mukhtar Ansari’s death, seeks report in a month

Ghazipur MP Afzal Ansari on Tuesday alleged that his brother...

‘Heart attack or poisoning’: The life and times of Mukhtar Ansari—crime and politics

‘Heart attack or poisoning’: The life and times of Mukhtar Ansari—crime and politics

Eastern parts of Uttar Pradesh are among the poorest regions...

CBI files chargesheet against 20 institutes, 105 individuals in Himachal Pradesh multi-crore scholarship scam

CBI files chargesheet against 20 institutes, 105 individuals in Himachal Pradesh multi-crore scholarship scam

22 educational institutions were on CBI radar in the scholar...

Mahagathbandhan announces LS seat-sharing for Bihar; RJD to contest 26, Congress 9

Mahagathbandhan announces Lok Sabha seat-sharing for Bihar; RJD to contest 26, Congress 9

High-decibel contest seems on the cards in Hajipur, where RJ...


Cities

View All