In Chandigarh, former supermodel Marc Robinson says diversity isn’t going to be the mainstay for long but AI is in for a long haul

He practises what he preaches; 35 years strong in the modelling and fashion industry, one of India’s first male supermodels, Marc Robinson kept his yearly date with the City Beautiful! In Chandigarh for Pepe Jeans Fashion Designer Awards 2025 Student Edition, as he addressed the budding designers at INIFD Chandigarh, the enthusiasm and excitement was palpable, especially since the last year’s award winner Arbaz Khan was from the same institute!

Marc has been living his passion—to scout and hone talent from small places and take them to the world stage—for years now. Arbaz has since moved on and is now working with a leading fashion designer Arjun Khanna in Mumbai. Very proud of another feat, he shares, “This is what keeps me enthused even after decades in the industry. To meet these young talented boys and girls, shy and introvert, without any passport, finding it difficult to converse in English, and then to break every barrier that is and shine on the global stage, is wonderful.”

Marc recalls when he launched Elite Model Look India, he had to intervene for ensuring visas for the models. “Now those very people are living and working in Paris and Milan, opening shows for big names like Versace,” says Marc, rocking his blond look.

Sticking to the basics

With Artificial Intelligence and diversity being the buzzwords, driving every field, including beauty and fashion, the rules remain basic and simple. “We may run with it, but diversity isn’t going to be the mainstay for long, as we saw lately with beauty pageants,” says Marc. Courtesy Donald Trump, who proclaimed ‘the US government will recognise only two sexes, male and female’, Marc points out, “When the President of America says so, it’s hard to overlook.” Marc recalls meeting Trump in Russia for Mrs Universe contest. “He was Mrs Universe licensee then and has influenced the beauty pageant scene for a significant amount of time.”

As for AI, Marc points out, “It’s going to be in for a long haul. But we need to be cautious. As Elon Musk says ‘we are summoning the demon’.” But he doesn’t worry about the competition. “AI would still need human input. One can go as diverse or not when using AI, but be it Kashmiri Kani or Punjabi Phulkari, handwork is going to stay, coexistence being the key here.”

Make education your mainstay

For the newcomers trying to make a mark in the glamour world, he repeats his own formula. “Make education your mainstay, be a model as a hobby, go to your job till you have so much work that you cannot give time to your job.” Interestingly, this is the path he took too. Working with KLM Airlines in Delhi in sales and marketing, he kept his 9 to 5 job till he got so many modelling and fashion show assignment that he couldn’t get to work. “I remember flying in and out of Bombay, at times 26 days a month.”

And this is the mantra he gives to his youngest daughter Sienna, who wants to pursue in his footsteps. While his elder daughter Chanel is in the veterinary field, his son interested in finance, he is happy the genes have taken the effect in Sienna, who is interested in modelling and fashion. “But I tell her to make academics a priority first.”

As for choosing an agency to represent, he advices, “Do thorough research. See who all the agency is representing, and if it signs you, can it fetch you work? It any agency is asking money from you, it might not be right.”

Marc loves coming to Chandigarh! While his team flies from Mumbai, Marc ties his Chandigarh assignments to the ones in Delhi, so that he can take a car ride and stop at the dhabas to sip kulhad tea. Any changes that he has noticed? “Food has only gotten better and now the dhabas have stepped up to become Instagram worthy.” And before he heads back, he ensures to stock up on gajar ka halwa, mathri and namakparas, “I am big on winter savouries and ensure to take them back to Mumbai with me.”