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PHOTO: R. RAGU

Mirror mirror on the wall…Mehar Bhasin

So you have a pure inner light? Well, unless it’s accompanied by an aquiline nose, or at least carefully applied mascara, bad luck. Inner beauty might work in children’s books — though coming to think of it even the Ugly Duckling changed into a swan — but in today’s world your shoes tend to be far more vocal than your soul.

Mehar Bhasin, model and founder of the ‘Mehar Bhasin Academy’ in Delhi, didn’t mince words, when she sashayed onto the Taj Connemara stage, well-toned, meticulously-made up and sporting D&G sunglasses on her flamboyantly coloured hair. “It’s time you realise that the world has changed,” she stated to the women from Ellements Club. Beauty does matter. “It’s about packaging,” she paused thoughtfully for a minute before adding, “Like a beautiful box from Tiffany’s.”

Mehar began modelling in college. “I’ve got the height. People said I have the looks, so I thought, let’s make use of it,” she stated, in her matter-of-fact way. Discussing how it is actually possible to reinvent yourself into a glamour doll, “It’s not only about beauty, but also a positive aura and an ooze of confidence and sex appeal,” Mehar started her academy 7 years ago, in Delhi. Partly because she realised “Modelling is a short spanned career.” And partly because she wanted to “give back”. After all, the country was rife with worried women asking, “What is glitter? How do I look good wearing heels when they make my back ache? How do I use foundation?”

But quite seriously, Mehar is refreshingly honest about what she believes in: the fact that looks do matter. And so does grooming. Her school therefore starts with children aged between 3 and 5, teaching them table manners, etiquette and trendy little tricks like how to use chopsticks. Besides that, she trains aspiring models to do everything from working an eyelash curler, to standing up for themselves. “The senior models try all kinds of things to intimidate them,” she says, giving us a fascinating glimpse into the seedy world of backstage politics. “They’ll say, I’ll trip you. Or I’ll break your zip.”

Peppered with charming little stories like this, her session with Ellements was quite fascinating, despite stretching to more than five hours. It covered a bewildering gamut of subjects. How to shake hands for instance: “Smile, make eye contact, make sure your body is parallel and your arm right angled.” And if a man holds on for too long, as some men inevitably do? “Look into their eyes and tap their hand firmly.” “What if he’s good-looking?” yelled a member of the audience. “Oh, then, don’t let go!”

The handshaking session was followed by an intensive makeup class, guaranteed to make even a scientist dizzy. The essentials, apparently are (deep breath) blusher brush, eye shadow, eyelash curler, powder puff, remover, foundation, translucent powder, Vaseline, eye shadow, eye pencil, eye liner, mascara, blusher, highlighter powder, shimmer, glitter, lip gloss, lip stick. I overhear one woman whisper to the other at this point “If men know we use all this, they’ll run a mile.” The other replied, “And all this to achieve a ‘natural’ look”

Beauty can, indeed, be painful.

But Mehar insisted on being bubbly about it. “Brand names are noticed more,” she admitted, “But it doesn’t matter if you wear Chanel or Louis Vuitton. It’s about what your mouth speaks and your body says. If you have charm, personality, charisma – you get looked at.” But that means never being less than perfect. As she demonstrated by gasping with horror, post-lunch, looking at her by now wilted audience. “At home on Sunday you are welcome to sit with oil in your hair, and no nail polish or lipstick on. But look at all of you now!” she said, “Please take out your compacts and re-apply your lipstick.”

“We are very visual as human beings,” she said, adding “Men look at women’s nails, women look at men’s feet and shoes. And judge them on what they wear.”

But even if you have your eye glitter on perfectly, she cautioned, don’t forget to be nice. For a very good reason. “Help people… If you don’t, remember there will be a day when there’s something stuck in your teeth and nobody will tell you.”

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