For the first time, an Indian model, Nidhi Sunil, has been named as the Global Ambassador for L’Oréal Paris. Previously actors like Aishwarya Rai Bachchan and Deepika Padukone were named as Indian global brand ambassadors for the brand. Nidhi is the first model from India appointed to the global ambassadorship role.

Nidhi is a former environmental attorney from Kerala, India, who began modeling in 2011. Born on the 30th of March, 1993 in Cochin, Kerala, India, and began modeling at the age of 22.

She was the second runner-up in the Kingfisher Calendar Girl 2010 Hunt. In 2010, at the age of 23, she won the Femina Miss South Glamorous Hair subtitle.

She is an advisory board member and spokesperson for the Invisible Girl Project, an organization that aims to end gendercide and infanticide that disproportionately affects young girls in India.

Sunil, who is represented by One Management as of 2018, told WWD in a phone interview, “Confronting perspectives on beauty and other people’s perceptions on how they view you is obviously horrific because it shapes your sense of self-worth and self-esteem.”

In a statement, Delphine Viguier-Hovasse, global brand president of L’Oréal Paris, called Sunil “a perfect spokesperson” for the company’s message that “every girl is born worth it.”

“From lawyer to model, actress to activist, Nidhi uses her energy to speak out against colorism and gendercide and to campaign for girls to be as valued as much as boys,” Viguier-Hovasse said.

Nidhi has also spoken out a number of times against colorism, penning an essay on the topic for Dazed in 2019.

While talking about the opportunity she has received, Nidhi said that working with somebody like L’Oréal, it’s a huge platform as on her own she would never be able to get out to as many people as she wants with this message.

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She further added, “At the same time, they’re catering to a demographic where there’s clearly a demand for certain products. The way I hope to bridge that gap is essentially by continuing to do what I’m doing to change the dialogue and change the way people see themselves in my own little bubble of influence, opening gates and doors that were previously closed to me.”