Fortune's Face / Viveka Babajee

Fortune's Face / Viveka Babajee

I love doing what I'm doing. If it were not for the sake of passion, then I definitely wouldn't be doing it," says Viveka Babajee, the stunning Mauritian-born model. And judging by her success, it seems that passion may well be the key. The face of Urvashi -- the most expensive Indian perfume on the European market -- she only started to model professionally at 20, after she entered the Miss Mauritius title in 1993. Six years later, she was so much in demand that she moved to Mumbai and landed the sizzling, controversial Kama Sutra condom campaign. At the same time Viveka also became the cynosure of all eyes. After spending two months commuting between her hometown and Mumbai, she decided to cut ties with this city because the fashion industry was, on occasion, downright hostile. But today Viveka is back and with a vengeance. "You have to go beyond. I realised that and that is why I'm sitting here today. Why should I sacrifice my career for stupid reasons? I like what I do, in fact I love what I do. Ihave realised that you have to transcend these things."

With her family in Mauritius, loneliness is constantly on the surface but Viveka is determined to succeed. "I have given myself a goal and I want to pursue it. This is my career, it's what I've chosen. I know I can always ring home, so that's a comfort." At the moment she's getting ready for a show put together by a collection of student designers in their final year, "the designers of the future". As for her own future, Viveka is even more clear. "I'm very straightforward with myself. The moment I know that it won't be possible for me anymore, I'll stop."

Film is something she's considering though, regarding acting as the logical step forward. The idea of starring in a film with Pierce Brosnon as a Bond girl strikes her as an exciting option. According to her, in India there are other girls too who could make wonderful 007 consorts. "Meher Jesia and Madhu Sapre have faces that appeal to me. What's important is the structure, the jawline and things like that. Both their faces have these features. As a model you realise the importance of the face. The body is only really important in terms of the ramp. It's the face that really matters in my business."

-- BEATRICE GIBSON