Standing at just 5 feet and 3 inches, Alysha Hemani wants to defy the conventional expectations of the ever-exclusive modeling industry.
She chose to boldly strut her stuff at a New York Fashion Week (NYFW) casting call, despite the height requirement for hopeful models being set at 5 feet and 10 inches. Hemani’s message: “You miss 100 percent of the shots you don’t take” has resonated with many after she shared her experience to Instagram under @alyshakeyz on August 30. Still, the short clip, which captures her walk at the casting call, has also sparked comments in favor of the fashion industry’s high standards.
Hemani hopes her entry into a world where towering heights and flawless figures dominate runways can spark a conversation on the intense selectivity of the industry, and provide inspiration to those who also want in.
“I started out doing creative shoots of myself, where I handled everything—from …