Alesia Raut's transformation from a timid finalist in The Times Group's Look Of The Year 1999 to fashion's darling was nothing short of magical. She was a knockout when she entered the fashion industry—and she's still bowling people over with her electrifying presence at fashion weeks and star-truffled showings.

It's her aristocratic look and elegance that set her apart from the PYT pack. She is tall. She is slim. She is beautiful. Add to that poker straight hair and expressive eyes and she is a natural! Designers aren't the only ones taking note—Alesia played a model in Madhur Bhandarkar's 'Fashion' and was a contestant in reality television show 'Khatron Ke Khiladi'—besides music videos and item numbers, fashion choreography, anchoring and mentoring aspiring models. The world is her oyster.

Today she's one of the most enchanting models on the Indian catwalk and believes in hard work and solid ethics—it's due to these qualities and a firm head on her shoulders that I too look up to her. "Frankly I really don't know what's in store for me five years from now but I never say 'never'. So whatever projects comes my way I'll definitely give it a shot! I see myself giving back to modelling in the form of a mentor. It's what I'm doing with Femina Miss India and Miss Diva finalists too. Of course, I want to continue doing lots and lots of shows especially students' shows during their annual year at a fashion institute" she told me and then added "My most memorable moment was when I shot for Vogue India with my son. This was for an article on 'model mom'!"

— Jasmeen Dugal