From Melbourne Rejection to Mumbai Runway: The Inspiring Rise of Alicia Kaur
In an industry notorious for its impossibly high standards and crushing rejections, one woman’s journey from overlooked outsider to crowned champion stands as a testament to the power of persistence. Alicia Kaur’s story isn’t just another rags-to-riches tale—it’s a masterclass in resilience, reinvention, and finding your place in the most unexpected corners of the world.
The Beginning: A Child Model’s Rocky Start
Picture this: a three-year-old girl stepping in front of cameras for the first time in Melbourne, Australia. That was Alicia Kaur’s introduction to the modeling world, a world that would test her resolve for nearly two decades before finally opening its doors.
Born to Indian parents in Australia, Alicia existed in a unique cultural space—not quite fitting into the conventional mold that Australian agencies were seeking. The numbers tell a brutal story: 45 rejections from a single Melbourne agency alone. For most aspiring models, even a handful of “no’s” is enough to crush dreams. But Alicia kept showing up.
Finally, at 19, persistence paid off when she secured representation with a reputable agency. Yet the struggle was far from over.
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The Global Search for Belonging
With her Australian breakthrough in hand, Alicia set her sights on international markets. She tried her luck in China, walked the streets of European fashion capitals, and knocked on countless doors. But something wasn’t clicking. The modeling work was sporadic, the connections fleeting, and the sense of truly belonging remained elusive.
Then, at 23, she made a decision that would change everything: she moved to India.
Finding Home in Mumbai’s Fashion Scene
Mumbai wasn’t just another city on Alicia’s modeling circuit—it became her home. The vibrant energy of India’s fashion capital, the rich cultural tapestry, and perhaps most importantly, a connection to her Indian heritage created the perfect storm for her career to finally take off.
The runway became her kingdom. For the past decade, Alicia has been a fixture at Lakme Fashion Week, one of India’s most prestigious fashion events. She’s graced runways for powerhouse designers including Shantanu and Nikhil, Rahul Mishra, and the legendary duo Abu Jani and Sandeep Khosla.
Her runway presence isn’t conventional—it’s memorable. Whether she’s walking backwards for designer Shahin Mannan or commanding attention with her unique blend of Australian confidence and Indian grace, Alicia has carved out a distinctive space in an oversaturated industry.
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The Crown: Supermodel of the Year 2023
Recognition came in its most official form in 2023 when Alicia was named Supermodel of the Year India. The title wasn’t just an acknowledgment of her beauty or runway skills—it was validation for nearly two decades of rejection, reinvention, and relentless pursuit of her dreams.
But with visibility comes scrutiny, and 2024 brought both increased fame and unexpected controversy.
The Viral Moment That Sparked Debate
Fashion shows are choreographed performances, carefully planned collaborations between designers, models, and sometimes celebrity showstoppers. When Alicia walked the runway with Bollywood heartthrob Sidharth Malhotra at a Shantanu and Nikhil show in Delhi, their chemistry was palpable—and entirely intentional.
The performance went viral, but not always for flattering reasons. Social media erupted with commentary, some praising the boldness of the presentation, others criticizing what they perceived as inappropriate behavior toward the married actor. The online backlash was swift and harsh.
Alicia’s response? A perfect blend of humor and professionalism. She posted an Instagram story with “#SorryKiara, #ItsOurJob,” playfully addressing Sidharth’s wife, actress Kiara Advani, while making it crystal clear that what viewers witnessed was professional choreography, not personal flirtation.
The incident highlighted the impossible standards models face—expected to create chemistry and sell a fantasy on the runway, yet criticized when they do their jobs too convincingly.
Breaking Beauty Standards: The Body Positivity Champion
What sets Alicia apart from many in her industry isn’t just her runway prowess—it’s her radical honesty about the journey beneath the glamorous surface.
In a candid 2025 cover story for Harper’s Bazaar India, Alicia pulled back the curtain on her struggles with body dysmorphia and the unrealistic beauty standards that plague the fashion industry. She spoke openly about her decision to undergo breast augmentation surgery, crediting it with helping her overcome years of deep-seated insecurity.
In an industry where such admissions are often taboo, Alicia’s transparency is revolutionary. She’s not promoting cosmetic surgery as a solution for everyone, but rather advocating for bodily autonomy and the right to make choices that boost individual confidence.
Her message is clear: beauty standards should serve us, not enslave us. Self-acceptance comes in many forms, and there’s no single path to feeling comfortable in your own skin.
The PCOD Journey: Health Over Aesthetics
Behind the glossy magazine covers and perfectly lit runway walks, Alicia faced a battle that nearly derailed her career entirely: Polycystic Ovary Disorder (PCOD).
The condition wreaked havoc on her body, affecting her weight, mood, skin, and mental health. For a model, whose livelihood depends on physical appearance and energy, PCOD presented challenges that went far beyond typical professional obstacles.
Rather than turning to quick fixes or extreme measures, Alicia embraced a holistic approach. She adopted a plant-based vegan diet, emphasizing fresh fruits, natural sunlight, water, and regular exercise. Importantly, she’s been vocal about the fact that her approach isn’t about starvation or deprivation—it’s about nourishing her body with natural energy sources.
Her openness about PCOD has resonated with countless women facing similar struggles, transforming Alicia from just a fashion figure into a wellness advocate.
Beyond the Runway: Multi-Hyphenate Maven
Modeling is just one facet of Alicia’s multifaceted career. She’s also a certified health coach, nutritionist, and meditation teacher—credentials that inform her holistic approach to wellness and career longevity.
Her YouTube channel offers fans a behind-the-scenes look at the modeling industry, featuring vlogs about commercial shoots, TV appearances, and daily life in Mumbai. It’s content that demystifies the fashion world while maintaining the magic that draws people to it.
She’s also ventured into acting, including an appearance in the Netflix series “The Royals,” proving that her talents extend well beyond the catwalk.
Looking ahead, Alicia has announced plans to launch confidence workshops for aspiring models—an initiative that will allow her to share the hard-won lessons from her own journey with the next generation.
Confronting Racism in Two Countries
Alicia’s journey hasn’t been without painful moments of discrimination. She’s spoken candidly about facing racism in both Australia and India during different phases of her career.
In Australia, she often felt too different, too “ethnic” for the predominantly white modeling standards. But upon arriving in India, she encountered the opposite problem—being told to “get this white girl out of the country” because she didn’t look “Indian enough” to some gatekeepers.
These experiences of not fitting neatly into either category could have been devastating. Instead, Alicia used them to carve out her own unique space, proving that authentic representation in fashion means making room for all the beautiful complications of mixed heritage and cross-cultural identities.
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Personal Life: Growth Through Change
Alicia’s personal journey includes a five-year marriage to fellow model Prabh Uppal, which ended in divorce around 2023. While she keeps much of her private life away from public scrutiny, she’s been open about how personal relationships and their evolution have shaped her perspective on self-worth and independence.
The divorce, combined with her health struggles and career challenges, has informed her current work as a wellness advocate and mentor to other models navigating the industry’s turbulent waters.
The Message of Persistence
If there’s one thread that runs through every chapter of Alicia Kaur’s story, it’s persistence. From that three-year-old child model to the woman who faced 45 rejections to the international supermodel gracing India’s most prestigious runways—every step required showing up even when the odds seemed impossible.
She frequently speaks about the importance of discipline, consistency, and daily routines. Her advice to aspiring models is simple but powerful: never give up on your dreams. Maintain your practice, show up every day, and trust that the right opportunity will eventually present itself.
Looking Ahead: The Next Chapter
At the height of her career, with a Supermodel of the Year title, a decade-long relationship with Lakme Fashion Week, and a growing platform for wellness advocacy, Alicia shows no signs of slowing down.
Her upcoming confidence workshops represent an evolution from walking the walk to teaching others how to do the same. It’s a natural progression for someone who has learned that true beauty and success come not from fitting into prescribed molds, but from having the courage to redefine them entirely.
The Bigger Picture
Alicia Kaur’s story matters beyond the fashion industry. It’s a reminder that success rarely follows a straight line, that rejection is often redirection, and that finding where you truly belong sometimes means traveling halfway around the world.
In an era of Instagram perfection and filtered realities, her willingness to discuss body dysmorphia, cosmetic surgery, health struggles, and professional setbacks offers a refreshing counter-narrative. She’s proof that you can acknowledge your insecurities, take action to address them, and still advocate for self-acceptance—these concepts aren’t contradictory, they’re complementary.
For young women watching from Melbourne or Mumbai or anywhere in between, Alicia’s journey offers hope: your background doesn’t have to determine your destination. Your early rejections don’t define your worth. And sometimes, the place where you finally bloom is not where you started, but where you had the courage to go.
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The Takeaway
From Melbourne rejection to Mumbai’s fashion royalty, Alicia Kaur has rewritten the script on what it means to be a supermodel in the 21st century. She’s shown that beauty comes in many forms, that health is more important than aesthetics, and that authenticity—messy, complicated, honest authenticity—is the ultimate form of glamour.
Her crown as Supermodel of the Year India 2023 wasn’t just about walking a runway perfectly. It was recognition of a journey that inspires, a voice that advocates, and a presence that proves perseverance can turn 45 rejections into one resounding yes.
In the end, Alicia Kaur isn’t just modeling clothes—she’s modeling what it looks like to bet on yourself when nobody else will, to find your tribe in unexpected places, and to build a career that’s as meaningful as it is successful.
And that’s a runway walk worth watching.
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