Mariya Suhaib: Russian model with a clause in Pakistan

She is a Russian by descent, was born in Kazakhstan, and is happily married to a Punjabi from Pakistan, where she is settled with her husband and their three children. Mariya Suhaib, a model at the PFDC Sunsilk Fashion Week 2015, catwalks with a clause -- no skin show.

"I am not open for skin show on ramp. That's the reason why I only walk for those designers who can give me covered up clothes," Suhaib told IANS during a chat in a shared taxi here.

During the course of interaction, the 27-year-old said that it was this reason why she accepted few offers in her home country, because the maximum she can go bold is by wearing sleeveless.

"I can just wear sleeveless. I can't wear dresses with legs highlighted or other body parts showing. Most of the designers are aware of this fact, and hence they visualise clothes whenever my name hits their mind," she said.

Suhaib, who got married at the age of 18 to a boy who fell in love with her during his college days in Kazakhstan, started modelling in 2013.

She thanks her husband for supporting her through thick and thin, and for motivating her to continue modelling.

"I don't stay with my in-laws, so I am not sure how they will take my profession, but my husband is very supportive. He is a doctor by profession and currently practicing radiology. He makes sure that I am eating at right time and picks me up from wherever I say. He also takes care of our children when I am not around," she said.

With her roots in Russia, was it too difficult to get into the mode of Pakistani lifestyle and language for her?

"No," she said, and added: "I still remember that when I shifted here in 2006 soon after my marriage, I was not able to understand Urdu language. There was no one to talk with, so my husband came up with a solution.

"He became my teacher and started giving me Urdu lessons. He made sure that I complete my homework which he used to give before leaving for office. He used to say that since I have to communicate with his parents, I have to learn Urdu. So, I did," said Suhaib, who can now speak Urdu fluently.

Standing tall and with glowing skin, Suhaib credits her genes for her frame, and she has no qualms if in future, her two daughters follow in her footsteps to take up a modelling career.

"I would say 'yes'. I think they will do it as my elder daughter is tall too."

(The writer's trip is at the invitation of the Pakistan Fashion Design Council. Nivedita can be contacted at nivedita.s@ians.in.)