Exclusive | Rabanne Victor on ramp walking in a lehenga: I felt like a diva

The Indian ramp is witnessing alternative ideas of expression of gender identity New versions of masculinity and femininity both neither and everything in between are emergingIndia Couture Week 2023 recently concluded its 16th edition at the Taj Palace in New Delhi What truly stole the show for us was one such trailblazing ramp walk by gay model Rabanne Victor who strutted down the runway in a resplendent golden fishtail lehenga Victor talked to Midday exclusively about his experience at India Couture Week and engaged in discussion with us about defying gender stereotypes and norms around clothing and otherwiseSpeaking about his ramp walk Rabanne said ldquoI loved it I had so much fun But I dont have any practice walking in heels Or in a lehenga It was quite a heavy garment plus the veil was pinned into my head And so I walked out feeling really confident But that first step I miscalculated and I couldnt really see where my foot was going because of the lehenga And I fell And then after that I was just in my head because I was only focused on not falling again So I was shaky and I couldnt focus on keeping my stomach in and staying poisedrdquoCouture Week unlike its deceptive name is an event spanning eleven days Rabanne talked about how early call times long rehearsals and of course the afterparties could potentially affect onersquos sleep but conversely also help one understand more about onersquos body Thus if Victor felt nervous about his initial stumble we certainly didnrsquot notice it because of how gracefully he completed the rest of his walkView this post on InstagramA post shared by Rabanne Jamsandekar Victor rabannevictorIn an interview with India Today the model had mentioned that he felt like a princess walking in a lehenga and high heels for the first time and he confirmed that the walk definitely felt like coming into his own Rabanne was originally slated to walk for Falguni Shane Peacock at an event in 2016 but could not join the roster at the time because of the labelrsquos prerequisite of cleanshaven male modelsldquoWell apart from the fact that I look really ridiculous with a clean shave I told them I couldnrsquot do it because I had already been booked for other showsrdquo he chuckled and told us In 2023 too Victor was a surprise addition to the Falguni Shane lineupldquoI was accompanying my friend and the fitting got over at a really late hour nearly 11 pm And then Shane and Falguni were there And I was like Shane you know what Id really love to do this show with a clean shave But only if you put me in womens wear And they were like come on we have one Theres one fishtail lehenga Lets just try it on I was in the changing room I put it onrdquoVictor describes the moment that followed as a simple yet rich moment of queer joy ldquoAnd I was just like I just felt so beautiful there Its insane how a garment can transform the way you see yourself and how you feel I just felt so beautifulrdquoldquoWhen I stepped out to show them I mean I just couldnt stop blushing I was just so happy And I was feeling myself I didnt have heels on but I was walking on my toes And I just felt like a diva supermortal Then when they put the veil on it took it up to another level Because under the veil I mean I dont really know what a bride feels like But I imagine thats what a happy bride would feel likerdquoRabanne confesses that the designers did not have to make any alterations to the outfit and even allowed him to walk the ramp sporting a stubble A true winwin situationPremodelling Victor always worked in industries that allowed him to keep his creative juices flowing He did multiple stints as a graphic designer a promotional manager for events and even worked in refurbishing furniture and interior decor Travel was a constant undertone in all the jobs he chose which is part of the reason he loves the modelling business as wellMuch like his 2023 walk at India Couture Week modelling was also a luckbychance affair for Victor After working in Sri Lanka he returned to Mumbai and was almost literally cast off the streetsldquoMy best friend she was with an agency And she had a meeting with them And so I went on my scooter to drop her And then they saw me outside and they asked her for my Facebook And then they contacted me and asked me if Id be interested in modelling I never really thought of modelling as a job for me Because Ive always been very selfconscious But touchwood things went really well from thererdquoWe asked Rabanne to share a little bit about his first steps in the modelling industry as an openly gay model He shared that he was often harassed growing up for being skinny and long hair which had also affected his selfperception and bodily acceptance While he did face rejections initially for having a lean and lithe figure he also received the opportunity to work with fashion bigwigs early on which put his face on the Indian fashion scene right from the startOver the years the fashion industry has undergone a tectonic shift in terms of greater willingness towards inclusivity and diversity of body sizes even though the lsquofantasticalrsquo male body is very much considered the more socially lsquolegitimatersquo body It seems as though the largely homogenous appeal for the much touted lsquomuscular alpha male bodyrsquo and the lsquomachorsquo garb is coming off with an orientation towards models that defy aesthetic conventions of size and colour and Victorrsquos physique and statement hair serve as proof of the embracing of the more youthful lsquoboyishrsquo lookModelling is often perceived as lsquoperformativersquo and for an audience but we asked Rabanne if conversely it has also made him feel more comfortable in his own skinldquoTheres good days and bad days Some shoots Ill be feeling wonderful about my body But then theres other days where Im not so happy And then theres many times where Im like okay this is really not the right line of work for merdquoVictorrsquos journey with mental illness and body image also led to him feeling conscious about himself auditioning alongside other models in the past But he says ldquoOne thing Ive learnt about myself from modelling is that Im not going to change who I am Take it or leave itrdquoFashion and clothing have been such an integral part of identity and selfexpression for so many in the queer community even while wearingnot wearing a certain kind of outfit can also reinforce social constructs and stereotypes about queer identities We asked Rabanne if fashion and genderfluid sartorial choices have helped him in his journey of queernessRabanne tells us how he was ridiculed for being effeminate or lsquogirlyrsquo owing to his physique and long hair while growing up as a desi queer kid in Mumbai Things changed during that crucial tender period of young adulthood when he received the opportunity to study in San FranciscoldquoI first got a taste for it when I went to university I studied in San Francisco which was I dont know if it still is but back then it was the gay capital of the world And when I went there I mean I got to like really I wasnt very flamboyant with my dressing or anything And I didnt really go too crazy But like small things like I bought a pair of red skinny jeans which in Bombay I would never have done But I bought them in San Francisco and Id wear them to college and stuff And I just felt so nice to be able to dress how I wanted without anybody looking at me or make bashing comments My friends and I used to paint little hearts on our faces and small things like that made me happyrdquoWith inclusivity becoming paramount for fashion Victor says that modelling has become a safe space for him ldquoIts a great time to be in the industry right now In the fashion scene I get to go for shows and have makeup on And then when youre with the fashion crowd at the afterparties and things I dont really think too much because I know Im with likeminded peoplerdquoldquoBut yeah dressing fashion really has been liberating Itrsquos simple things like just a smoky eye It makes me feel so confident Yeah even wearing heels is so empowering at that heightrdquoWe also asked Victor what it felt like to be smashing gender norms through clothingldquoOh my gosh its overwhelming and scary Im just grateful that I get to do this Yeah Im just overwhelmed and very thankful And I find the attention very odd alsordquoldquoBut Im very grateful And I remember for me the Falguni Shane thing actually brought back memories from my childhood Because I remember when I was in school I went to my best friends house in the fourth grade And she had a ballerina dress And so I was at her house and I put it on And I was so excited to have it on I was dancing around and stuff And I didnt want to take it offrdquoFrom a tutuclad fourth grader who was floating on air as he walked back home to a model who has become a prominent face of genderfluid fashion India Couture Week has certainly marked a fullcircle moment for Rabanne VictorLabels are now embracing androgynous fashion and stylistic elements even amidst a conservative insistence on queerness as a lsquowesternrsquo concept that has infiltrated and sullied lsquoIndianrsquo culture In the context of increasing rallying for LGBTQIA rights in india and the ongoing petition concerning samesex marriage at the India Supreme Court brands like Falguni Shane Peacock and Sabyasachi are introducing bridal couture and fashion incorporating genderfluid aesthetics and flair Ethnic outfits now have genderfluid elements like the outfit Rabanne Victor flaunted at India Couture Week as well as for his Sabyasachi lsquoCharbaghrsquo shootWhile this certainly points to a trend of allyship it remains to be seen whether the fashion industry and brands will perceive gender fluidity and inclusivity purely as commercially viable factors that can be banked upon or truly maintain their stance on equality and diversity in the long term