Clothes don’t make the man
Petr Nitka who takes to the ramp as the first gender-neutral model at LFW talks about fashion beyond stereotypes
Earlier this year, Manny Gutierrez made headlines as the first male model to endorse a cosmetic brand for women. Now, for the first time in the country, a male model will walk the ramp for Lakme Fashion Week for a women’s line. In a chat, Czechoslovakia’s first gender-neutral model Petr Nitka (23) talks about fashion without boundaries.
WHAT’S THE BIG FUSS ABOUT GENDER?
“For me being gender neutral is a state when you feel equally good as a man or a woman. It does not mean you need to change your sex or take hormones. I don’t think I am confused, I feel great as a gender-neutral person. When I was a kid, I used to be sad because I couldn’t wear make-up, and clothes. I have wanted to be a model all my life, but realised that I was too small and skinny to be a male model,” says Petr.
THE CALLING
Petr’s first brush with modelling was in Australia where he went to study English. He says, “I met photographer Bharathan Gangatheran and we did a shoot. His images were published in a fashion magazine. After I saw those pictures, I realised that I was not a typical model. Post that, I did many more shoots and started getting famous.”
BEING DIFFERENT
Luckily for Petr, his family and friends have always known that he was different and have been supportive. “My mother is my best friend. She likes my job and the way I work,” says Petr.
FASHION’S GENDER BENDER
Petr endorses androgynous fashion. He sports a men’s line and women’s line with equal ease and oomph on the ramp. His personal sense of style, however, is inclined towards the feminine side. “I have always loved wearing unisex clothes. But I am skinny and it is difficult for me to find male clothes. Therefore, I prefer simple fashion clothes of women. I like skinny jeans and tops. I feel better when I wear women’s wear because to be honest, I feel I look strange wearing men’s wear on a regular day,” he shares.
THE BIG FAT INDIAN CLOSET
Petr’s dream is to become the first gender-neutral model in countries where homosexuality is illegal — which is why India makes for a great runway. “I would like to change the way people see the LGBT community and women. With my modelling, I want to show that different sexual orientations exist. “This is the right time to destroy prejudices and stereotypes about races, sexual orientation, religions, gender, minorities and women. That is why I approached LFW. It’s so different as compared to fashion from other countries,” he says.
I am social but I don’t attend filmy parties, nor do I associate with people from the same profession