India can be trendsetter for fuller models: Russian model

She has walked the ramp for top international fashion houses like Valentino, Givenchy, Chanel and Oscar de la Renta, but Russian model Anastasia Kuznetsova is in awe of curvy Indian models and feels they can set a new trend on the ramp.

"I like it when a model is in good shape - not too thin, not too big. India can be a trendsetter for this in the international market," Kuznetsova told IANS when asked for her opinion on Indian models.

The Russian beauty has been in the fashion industry for the past six years and has also modelled for designers such as Louis Vuitton, Fendi, Philip Lim, Kenzo and retail brand Topshop. In 2009, she was also part of Victoria's Secret Fashion Show.

Now, she is set to make her debut on the Indian ramp at the Lakme Fashion Week (LFW) Winter-Festive 2013. The five-day event will start Aug 23 at the Grand Hyatt in Mumbai.

The fashion week will give her an opportunity to connect with Indian fashion.

Among other things that she loves about India are her "love for nature, food, and the weather".

"I love to work where I feel happy. All models go to places like Japan, China, and Singapore but why not India?

"I want to do Lakme to see what the fashion scene is in in India, what people are wearing. I want to see it from inside and hopefully connect Indian fashion with the international fashion market," she said.

India featured on her wish list after she started practicing yoga.

"No, I never thought about India until I started doing yoga. When I started learning more about yoga, I started to know more about India and Tibet. I live in New York and fly to countries like France, Britain, Spain and Russia. One day my yoga teacher invited me to come with her and the other pupils to Kerala for yoga and Ayurveda...and I said, 'Yes! why not!"

"When I saw India with my eyes, I fell in love with it," she said, adding that her love for the country has forced her friends to say, 'Nastya and her India'.

Her fascination for Indian doesn't stop here. She also loves watching the sunset in Mumbai.

"In May, I flew from London to Mumbai. When I got off the plane, I thought, 'What am I doing here in this city?' But a day later, when I saw sunset at the Marine Drive, I was happy and excited to work for fashion and films in this city," she said and added: "Oh and yes, before I came to Mumbai, I was reading 'Shantaram'. Great book."

The 2003 novel, written by Gregory David Roberts, is the story about a convicted Australian bank robber and heroin addict who escapes from a prison to India.

She also expressed her love for Bollywood.

"I want to learn Bollywood dance! I went to an acting school in London and I would love to be in front of camera for everything - fashion, television and films," said Kuznetsova.