Want to be a Mills & Boon model?

Publishing company now hunting for Indians to adorn its covers

Want to be a Mills & Boon model?

Publishing company now hunting for Indians to adorn its covers

Are you tall, dark and handsome? Or charming, petite and beautiful? Then you might just be eligible to feature on a Mills & Boon cover. Yes you read that right. The romance novels that now have Indian authors spinning amorous love tales will soon be featuring Indian models on the covers of their upcoming titles. The hunt is on and the publishers have invited entries from males and females who are 18 years and above.

All you need to do is log on to their website or sign up on their Facebook page and upload your snaps. "The response has been very good so far," said Manish Singh, Country Manager Harlequin Mills & Boon India. An average of 1,000 hopefuls have already applied. Three males and three females will be selected to feature on the covers of the Passion series of books that will be published in December.

Manish Singh, Country Manager, Harlequin Mills & Boon India.

These books will be written by journalist Aastha Atray Banan, banker Shoma Narayanan and Delhi-based retired principal Poonam Dabbas.u00a0The publishing house has launched the hunt as part of its 'Friends for Life' campaign. In order to select from a huge bunch of hopefuls who fancy themselves as cover models for the romance sagas, the company has roped in The Talent Promoters, a Delhi-based company that manages the likes of model Indrani Dasgupta and PC photography, a company which worked in the Aamir Khan starrer Lagaan: Once Upon A Time In India.

"Once a basic short-listing is done, they will be doing the final short- listing and come up with the six models," said Singh. "The criteria are the same as every model hunt. We are looking for males who are charismatic and match the traditional billing of tall, dark and handsome. For women, we want them to be charming and beautiful. Basically, they should be someone presentable," added Singh.

The three covers will then be shot and published globally. And you just need to be 18 years of age. "There is no age limit," said Singh. The idea to feature regular readers stemmed from a research that the publishing house undertook last year. "This would help us connect with the women in India. Additionally, it would also help fulfil the dreams of our readers and loyalists. We want to engage with them," said Singh. So if you fancy yourself on the cover of the soppy romances, log on before entries close on August 31.