Malaysian model and Odissi dancer Vanizha Vasanthanathan is a dazzling sight as she struts down the catwalk or glides across the stage during a performance. But there was a time when she was less than confident about her physical appearance.

“Before I became a model, I got a lot of stick (was criticised) for being too dark, too tall and too thin,” says Vanizha who stands at 181cm barefoot.