University of Derby graduate becomes UK’s first South Asian plus-size model

Image by David VenniCaption: Image by David Venni

Bishamber Das, a University of Derby graduate in Law and Criminology has become the UK’s first South Asian plus-size model. This is not the only feather in her cap as she also became the youngest Asian magistrate at the age of 22.

Inspired to take up the profession in her 20s as a result of the lack of representation of South Asian models in the UK, Das has found massive success and bagged some big campaigns with well-known global brands like Adidas and eBay, despite starting her career at the age of 26, which is not the norm.

Das has spoken about her struggles as a child growing up in Derby, with her friends dressing up like The Spice Girls which she could not identify with as they did not represent South Asian women. She added, “We were always told we needed to look a certain way. I needed to be a certain size otherwise when I was to reach a marriageable age nobody would approach me because I was too ‘fat’. That’s why I always had this pressure that I needed to look a certain way.”

Das is a strong campaigner for body positivity and has a large following on social media, many of whom look up to her. She also launched a plus-sized clothing brand called ‘Girl Like Me’ in India before the pandemic hit back in 2020.