Behind the Camera to the Billboard · Sogand

In Sogand's words

For six years, I lived in India as a student. Modeling was never part of my plan. I was studying graphic design, focused on art, editing, and everything that happened behind the camera. But when my studies ended, everything suddenly became uncertain.

I wanted to stay in India longer. I wanted to become independent and start building a life for myself in Mumbai. But the reality was difficult: working as a graphic designer wasn't enough to support the lifestyle and expenses of living in a city like Mumbai.

That's when a friend casually suggested something that completely changed my life. "You should try modeling."

At first, I laughed. I knew absolutely nothing about modeling. I had no experience, no confidence, no idea how the industry worked. I was someone who always preferred being behind the camera, not in front of it. The idea felt impossible to me.

But then I met my manager, who was also Iranian, and he saw something in me before I could see it in myself. He was patient, supportive, and constantly encouraged me. He told me, "You'll learn. Don't worry about the poses or the experience. It takes time." And he was right.

In the beginning, it was incredibly difficult. I was shy, awkward, and completely lost during shoots. I still remember my first few jobs. I didn't know how to pose, how to move, or how to express myself in front of the camera. Some clients weren't happy, and honestly, neither was I. But I kept going.

I practiced. I learned through experience. I started with small shoots and endless outfit changes every single day. Slowly, little by little, I became more comfortable in front of the camera.

Then another challenge came. I was considered too thin for the industry. Clients constantly had concerns about my measurements and fitness. Most of the time, I was booked only for beauty and jewelry campaigns, because the focus was more on my face than my body.

Instead of giving up, I decided to challenge myself again. Modeling pushed me to focus on myself in ways I never had before: my health, my fitness, my skin, my confidence, my discipline. Working out was never easy for me, but I committed to becoming a better version of myself, not only as a model but also as a person.

And slowly, things started changing. I began booking better campaigns. I worked with major jewelry brands and luxury hotels, and eventually saw my face on billboards, in malls, and across advertisements. There was a moment when brands started specifically asking for me, even after I had already worked with competing companies. That was the first time I truly felt: maybe this is happening. Maybe I'm actually making it.

One of the biggest milestones in my journey was working with the Taj Mahal Palace in collaboration with Manish Malhotra. It was one of the hardest shoots I had ever done. The dresses were extremely heavy, the schedule was exhausting, and at one point I even injured my back slightly from the physical pressure of the shoot. I remember feeling both grateful and frustrated at the same time. But when I finally saw the results, the campaigns, the TV commercials, the transformation in myself, I realized every difficult moment was shaping me into someone stronger.

Then came another unforgettable moment in my career: working alongside Emilia Clarke. I was in complete shock. I had watched her in Game of Thrones, and suddenly I was sharing scenes with her, speaking lines beside her, in a campaign shot in India. It felt surreal. In that moment, I thought to myself: this is the success I once only dreamed about.

I also had the opportunity to walk in several fashion shows, which taught me a completely different kind of discipline. The pressure, the spotlight, the stress backstage. It was intense, but it also made me stronger and more determined every single day.

And the truth is, even after the billboards, the TV commercials, the fashion shows, and the campaigns, the challenge never really ends. Every day still feels like a challenge to become a better version of myself. There are still moments where I feel frustrated, exhausted, or doubtful. There are moments when I wonder if I can keep pushing myself further. But then I look back at everything I've achieved in just two years: coming from another country, facing personal struggles, entering an industry I knew nothing about, and turning all those fears into opportunities.

And honestly, I feel proud of myself. Proud that I took a risk. Proud that I kept going even when I felt lost. Proud that I transformed challenges into growth. Most importantly, I'm grateful, especially for my manager, whose patience and belief in me helped me survive the moments when I didn't believe in myself.

This journey has never been easy, but it has been beautiful. And I truly believe this is only the beginning.

From the agency

AG Models scouted Sogand in 2024, at the end of her six-year graphic-design degree in India. What the bookers saw on the first test shoot was an editor's eye. She already understood images from the operator's side: light, composition, what reads on a page. The model side, the standing and the angling and the reading of a director's hand, was learnable. She was signed within weeks, and the work since has proved out the call.

Two years on, Sogand's face has run on Goenka India's emerald campaign, on Joules by Radhika's Mumbai showroom announcement, on Ashth's diamond ring campaign, and on a national luggage launch for Bagline under the line, "Styled for Every Journey." She has been cast on bridal couture at the Taj Mahal Palace with Manish Malhotra, and opposite Emilia Clarke in a campaign shot in India. Billboards across Mumbai. Television commercials. Indian fashion runways.

Sogand is the kind of model AG Models is built to develop. Scouted before the market saw her. Trained through the discipline of repeat bookings. Placed on the work that matters. The agency continues to represent her.