..............................................................................Model of the Month

She might not be one of those conventionally beautiful models walking down the ramp with deep blue eyes and a nymph-like beauty, but Fleur Xavier has a style which is all her own. She is a definitely a face to watch out for. The cover girl of many a magazine and the face of many ad commercials, she is one of those genuinely sensuous models who continually sets the ramp on fire.

Her young days ...

Fleur comes from a typically Roman Catholic family. Born and brought up in Mumbai, she claims to be like any other child who enjoyed herself thoroughly. "I had a very relaxed childhood and have no regrets or complaints about it," says Fleur. After having completed her schooling, she moved on to St. Xavier's College to do her graduation .

Her experience with beauty pageants....

"It was my mother who sent my pictures for the Femina Miss India contest. I ended up as the runner up and won the title of Miss Beautiful Skin. It was on the insistence of Lubna Adams and Hemant Trivedi that I took part in the Femina Look of the Year where I was placed second. Despite not being able to win the title, the contest gave me an advantage, for it provided the platform and exposure that is required to start a career in modelling," avers Fleur.

Modelling, as it happened ....

"I had not really intended to be a model but somehow things fell into place and there I was walking down the ramp. Initially I did not really get much work and was quiet tired of strutting down the ramp," says the beautiful model. However, people soon took notice of her and she did the Maruti Zen ad, the Thums up with Salman Khan, and the Monte Carlo ad with Tarun Raghavan. She was one of the few Indian models who had the privilege of being invited to do the IGEDO fashion show in Dusseldorf.

The music videos ...

"I just love to sing and dance", says Fleur. Fleur has done an Udit Narayan pop video with Milind Soman. So, perhaps, she might just end up singing for her next video.

Maintaining her figure ....

"I don't really work out because of a knee problem . But I definitely watch my diet for I have a weight problem. It is amazing how fat I was as a child. I somehow managed to lose weight. Don't ask me how! "

Favourite fashion designer...

"It is definitely Hemant Trivedi whose Indo - Western cuts are really cool. Tarun Tahiliani's clothes are also very sensuous,"

Joining the bandwagon of model turned actresses....

"I don't really want to be famous, for I am here to make money. Joining the films would mean a total change in my life style which I don't want to happen. I do not think I can handle that kind of pressure. Moreover the profession does not even appeal to me ".

Fleur the kind of person....

"Nothing really bothers me much and I am cool about most of the things that go around me. Despite my indifference, the present scenario simply makes me feel so disgusted that I cannot help but react. It is so depressing at times. As a person I am a loner who not only feels uncomfortable but cannot even be friends with a lot of unknown faces." A really good friend is Aditi Govitrikar. Fleur prefers sitting and watching television, especially Zee News and Star World, and enjoys a quiet evening rather than going out and having a wild time partying. Apart from the very important parties, Fleur prefers not to go to most of these social events.

On that special person in her life .....

She admits having a special person in her life whom she had met on a blind date. He is also a model. "It was my sister who had set us up and even before I knew it I was in love with him. Relationships are very important to me. My family always comes first and I would like to get married and settle down. I am quite happy in the fairytale world that I reside in and just hope things stay the way it is," avers Fleur.

By: Sharmistha Chatterjee