The fashion and glamour industries across the world are undergoing sweeping changes to become more inclusive. At such a time, Malaika Arora is glad to step in as judge for the second season of MTV Supermodel of the Year, eager to effect change from the ground-up. While the central theme #UnapologeticallyYou sets the tone of the show, Arora says that as judge, she has tried to boost conversation around inclusivity and body positivity.   

“We have encouraged the girls to be who they are and speak their mind. This time, we have women from worlds that can’t be more far apart—from a trans woman to a cop, to a girl who hails from a patriarchal home and never left the city. We have married women too. We tell the women not to be clones of each other. Aping someone is natural instinct, but what makes you stand out is when you can be your own self,” she says. Arora has passed on the mantra that saw her through her initial modelling days—“Never be an also, be the one”—to the contestants.