Today we’d like to introduce you to Harika Sabbineni.
Harika, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
Ever since I was little, I’ve always liked dressing up and styling myself and my sister in creative outfits. As I got older, I competed in beauty pageants but made sure to always put education first. I am passionate about drug development and clinical research and knew from a very early age that I wanted to be a healthcare professional.
In order to fulfill my goal, I earned a master’s degree in Clinical Research Administration after graduating from Pharmacy School. A short while later, I graduated with a Ph.D. in Clinical and Experimental Therapeutics from the University of Georgia. My love for fashion and modeling only grew during my graduate career. I started modeling for friends as a hobby but things got real when a photographer contacted me on Instagram, asking if I was interested in modeling for him. He’s kind of a big name in the South Asian community. I have followed his work for years so when he asked, it was a no brainer. We did a photoshoot in Dallas downtown and when he published my pictures, a lot of people started contacting me to model. He’s my good luck charm. Since then, I have modeled for several designers, jewelers, and artists all over the country. I have been published in editorials for three international beauty and fashion magazines.
During Atlanta Fashion Week, where I walked for a couple of designers, some of the producers invited me to walk at Couture Fashion Week in New York, 2019. New York Fashion Week was one of the most incredible experiences I’ve had and completely changed my perspective on runway modeling. It’s when I also realized that I am one of the very few brown girls there. For South Asians, modeling is not an impossible feat, but we just don’t see ourselves pursuing that kind of career path. It’s not something that’s talked about in our community. Everyone has a set method of becoming a doctor or an engineer, but very few people consider that you can be a mainstream fashion model.
I am also very much passionate about health and fitness. I have enrolled in a NASM personal training certification course and will give my test in the next few weeks. I am a lifestyle model, blogger and content creator. I am represented by Icon Studios, Dallas in the southeast and Muse Management in the pacific northwest. I worked on a few national commercials and advertisement campaigns. I continue to model while working full time in the pharmaceutical industry.
My journey hasn’t been easy but I work hard to have a balance between my personal life, professional career, and side hustle. Between a full-time job, constant auditions, photoshoots and blogging, my calendar gets really busy but I make it work all while having fun. If you want something badly enough, you’ll find a way to make it happen. If I can inspire one girl to follow her dream to become a model and give South Asian people the representation we need, I’ve achieved my goal.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
It hasn’t been a smooth journey. There were many challenges along the way, small and big. There’s not many South Asian/Indian models in the mainstream fashion/beauty world so it was difficult to break into the industry. The casting calls primarily are centered towards a certain type of ethnicity and look. It has changed in the past couple of years, especially in the recent past but we still have a long way to go to.
The impossible beauty standards in this industry are also hard to break into. I was told all of these things-not tall enough, too tall, not skinny enough, too skinny, not brown enough, too brown. But I never gave up. I showed up and proved myself every single time. The other biggest challenge was balancing my professional career as a research pharmacist while traveling for auditions, photoshoots and fashion shows. It takes a lot of work, commitment and discipline to be good at my career and passion while taking care of myself physically and emotionally.
We’d love to hear more about your work.
I am a professional Fashion, Runway, Lifestyle model and actor but also a research professional. I am proud to be representing South Asian-especially Indian communities in the mainstream fashion and beauty industry. I am also proud to be representing women in science who are passionate about arts and are successful beyond their careers.
Because I’ work in professional settings, I know what’s expected of a team member. That’s why a lot of teams I work with tell me that I’m one of the most professional models they’ve ever worked with.
What is “success” or “successful” for you?
Success to me, is not defined by monetary earning or a certain number of Instagram followers rather a sense of accomplishment no matter how small it is because I have worked for it with my all. I set myself to higher standards and when I achieve those goals, I move on to the next. I value team building and take pride in the success of my peers just as mine. I am always looking for ways to share my knowledge with upcoming models who need guidance. If I can inspire one young girl who wants to be a model but also loves science by showing its possible to be a good at both, I consider myself successful.
Contact Info:
- Email: sabbineni03@gmail.com
Image Credit:
Arianna Sharfman Photography
Jeremy LaRue Photagraphy
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