PIX: These hotties want to play blushing brides

Here's a look at the model auditions for Aamby Valley India Bridal Week, held October 12 in Mumbai.

Had your fill of fashion weeks yet?

First there was the Lakme Fashion Week in September and then we had the India Couture Week earlier this month.

Next on the agenda is the Aamby Valley India Bridal Week, running from October 29 to November 2, which will showcase trousseaus and jewellery from some of the biggest names in the business.

And while the Indian fashion industry stresses the need for a single fashion week to consolidate dealings with international buyers, models are having a field day. In fact, they're flying in from across the world because the country is offering them chances to make good money several times a year.

In the following pages we offer you a glimpse of the proceedings at the and get feedback from some of the contestants and the judges.

In spite of the fact that firang models are becoming a staple on the Indian ramp, the large number who turn up at the audition is surprising.

Like the lovely Maddison McKay, 22, from Australia, who is bound to give her competitors a complex. "My mom and dad both modelled when they were younger as well. My dad played football professionally in Australia, so he did modelling part-time, as athletes tend to do. And my mom was a model and actress when she was sixteen," she states matter-of-factly.

"I started modelling from when I was a baby -- I started off being the baby in the car seat on TV, an ad for a car or something like that," continues Maddison. "I'd do shoots for my parents a lot and then I moved into doing work by myself as a professional model when I was 16. I've been modeling professionally for the last seven years."

Understandably, the presence of Maddison and other foreign hotties doesn't sit well with all the desi lovelies who are trying out for India Bridal Week too.

"I don't know with the amount of foreign models that are present here whether I will be selected, but since it's Indian Bridal Week, I just hope I make the cut," says Mumbai girl Priyanka, 23.

Priyanka is no stranger to the modelling circuit herself. "I'm a fulltime model, I've been acting in television commercials and I've also been doing ramp work," she explains. "So this is not my first time auditioning, although it is the first time I'm trying for Bridal Week."

Others are more confident of their catwalking prowess. A 24-year-old Indian hopeful categorically informs us that she's '99.9 percent sure' that she will get in. "My parents were like yeah, you should give it a try, you have the height and the looks, so why not?" she says.

Others' folks are even cooler than that. "They let me start modelling at 14 years old, so...they're always with me, they agree with everything that I do." That's 20-year-old Brazilian bombshell Bruna talking about her family's reaction to her choice of career. "But I think they'll be happy when I go back and stay for 2-3 months with them, because most of the time I'm travelling," she adds.

"I came to India because I heard that it's a good market for modelling and I'm doing castings," continues Bruna. "So I came for this one and actually I'm late for another now, because they asked me to go inside and take pictures!"

While it may seem from her statement that the Indian fashion industry is simply bursting with modelling opportunities, it doesn't exactly hold true for male models. While the auditions will select 10 female finalists, only two males will make the cut.

Like Bruna, 20-year-old Lilliana Campbell from Mexico City is also on a fly-by visit to the country.

"I'm planning to stay in India till November and then I go to Europe. Then maybe next year, I'll come back here. This place is so different from what I've ever seen!" exclaims the fulltime model.

Lilliana is casual about her approach to her career -- "I don't do much to maintain my looks, I guess I'm just that way genetically," she says. "I don't exercise or anything. Maybe just walking, I love to walk, that's always a good thing to do."

Maddison takes her fitness a little more seriously than that. "I jog, I cross-train, I do some yoga -- I like to mix it up. I do what I can without overdoing it. You shouldn't stress your body out too much," she counsels.

But despite the great shape she's in, this Aussie hottie doesn't want to count her chickens before they're hatched. When quizzed about how her try-out went, she says, "I hope it was good. I've done Delhi Fashion Week before as well and since I've worked for fashion weeks in India, I hope that will seem promising enough to them. But I've never done a bridal fashion week, so we'll see how that goes. I hope I get in though, because I'm really looking forward to dressing up in Indian bridal wear, just looking forward to the garments, they're so intricate and exquisite. I hope I get to wear them and play dress-up! That should be really fun."

Priyanka already has her back-up plans in place if her modelling career doesn't take off. "I'm studying law right now, but I do intend to take up modeling as a fulltime option and so far it's been really great," she says. "I come from a family of engineers and lawyers. I'm the first one to try my hand at modelling."

For others like Bruna, who is here for only two months, it hardly matters. And breezy Lilliana states that she "just decided to come for the casting round." As for how it went, she laughs, "Very well, I'll get it!"

Whatever their attitude, all the models certainly had to stand up to tough scrutiny.

The judging panel comprised of designers Rocky S, Falguni & Shane Peacock, show director Marc Robinson, former beauty queen Diana Hayden, Vijay Singh CMD, VCI Hospitality Ltd & Secretary General, FDPC and Yudhajit Dutta Proprietor, Purple People.

Over and above meeting the physical prerequisites, there was also a question-and-answer session with each candidate.

Given that some of the hopefuls were trying out for the first time ever, the judges were encouraging and impressed with the crop that turned up for the auditions.

Said Marc Robinson, "It was amazing to see so many young girls and boys audition. They have immense confidence and the right attitude. As a judge it was a very difficult decision to select just a few. I look forward to the rehearsals."

Added Hayden, "It reminded me of my days, the difference being that these models seemed extremely seasoned even though it was only their first time."

And finally, after much deliberation, the finalists were announced. Be prepared to see these pretty faces on the ramp soon, as we bring you coverage of Aamby Valley India Bridal Week right here!