How Bishamber is breaking barriers as UK’s first Asian plus-size model
LAWYER, MODEL AND ACTRESS AIMS TO BE AN INSPIRATION TO BODY-CONSCIOUS WOMEN
SHORTLY after graduating from the University of Derby in law and criminology, she became the UK’s youngest Asian magistrate at the age of 22.
Since then, Bishamber Das has turned her hand to body positivity activism, branding herself as the UK’s first British Asian plus-size model and earning campaigns with brands such as Adidas and eBay.
Born and raised in Derby, she embarked on a career in modelling in her late 20s, inspired by the lack of representation of the Asian community in the media.
As a child, Bishamber remembers her friends often dressing up as the Spice Girls, a game that would leave Bishamber feeling alienated as none of the band members resembled her.
She said: “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.”
Determined to help open the door for her under-represented community, Bishamber entered the entertainment industry, earning credits in acting, modelling, as well as activism. However, when beginning her career in modelling, finding success in the industry was much harder than anticipated.
“For the first few years I really struggled to be taken seriously. I came into the modelling industry much later, I think I was 26, whereas models usually start off extremely young,” she said.
“There was so much for me to learn, and I really had to struggle.”
Throughout her modelling career, Bishamber has amassed 135,000 followers on Instagram alone. She shares her work and lifestyle, along with inspirational captions encouraging her followers to love their body.
Her campaigns for body positivity on social media are mostly received positively by her audience, but like anything exposed to the world, it is open for criticism.
However, Bishamber said: “My focus isn’t on what these negative people have got to say, it’s about the change that we’re bringing. I’m so thankful that the masses understand and they’re so open and warm to it.
“The best compliment I’ve ever received in my life is when someone said to me, ‘thank you for everything you do, I’m so glad my daughter can see a role model like that.’
“I thought to myself, ‘that just beats everything.’ I don’t care what millions have got to say, just one person saying that made everything worthwhile for me.”
Bishamber’s largest following lies in India, where she is awaiting the release of her debut film Rabba Menu Maaf Kari, which translates to Please God Forgive Me, in which she will play the lead role.
“Sadly, people are so obsessed with what your body shape is that only if you’re thin and look a certain way will you be considered for certain roles, or the lead in a film,” she said.
“I’m totally the opposite of all of that. I don’t meet the aesthetic, I’m a plus-size woman. So, to land the role has been a massive achievement for me, and I’m just a normal girl from Derby.”
Inspired by her Indian roots and love for fashion, Bishamber launched her own plus-size clothing brand, Girl Like Me, in India just before the pandemic hit in 2020. Its first launch sold out quickly, proving to Bishamber there was a clear gap in the market for her niche brand.
“I was always a chubby kid and I used to have great difficulty in finding clothing that was in my size. I would literally hit the jackpot if it was fashionable at the same time,” said Bishamber.
“I felt that even though now we have such great choices here in the UK, that’s not the scene in India.
“I really wanted to empower women there by giving them something that’s affordable but fashionable as well, and that caters to their sizes. We’re a very, very small brand so we’re going slowly, but it’s still happening.”
Despite her success across the world, Bishamber’s origins in Derby continue to keep her grounded. Although these days she frequently travels back and forth from London, she insists Derby is still her home.
“I’m so passionate about Derby. I always used to say I wanted to be the Mayor of Derby one day,” she said.
“I owe so much to Derby. It’s my home, I’ve always been so comfortable there. I’m so thankful for the opportunities that came my way whilst I was in Derby.”
I don’t meet the aesthetic so this is a massive achievement for me, and I’m just a normal girl from Derby Bishamber Das