First impressions are always long lasting. Who can forget the popular sitcom Ugly Betty, and closer home Mona Singh in the local remake Jassi Jaisi Koi Nahi and how their lives changed after an image makeover. Many celebrities like Hrithik Roshan and Siddhartha Mallya have enrolled in classes to boost their confidence levels. Actor Duniya Rashmi was not doing so well in Sandalwood, but now the starlet is back with a bang, thanks to an image makeover. There are image consultants, queuing in by the dozen to help you step up the corporate ladder, or make a relationship successful and give you a head-to-toe revamp with complete personality development. We explore the trend which is catching on in the city.
Image makeovers can be adept at forging new relationships and maintaining old ones.
“I was depressed, but after enrolling into a 21-day image makeover session and some one-on-one sessions, I can now communicate with confidence and can handle crises. I have transformed physically too and that is a bonus. Infact, I had never travelled by flight before as I was scared. Now, I know all about dining and flying etiquette and took my first flight recently.”
Someone who almost gave up on life after a marriage and kids is Amrutha John, who came back with zeal to prove herself. She reveals, “After I got married and had children, I had to leave a successful career, but thanks to a few sessions, I’m now juggling both perfectly and am a happy person. I was under the misconception that image makeover is only about looking stylish. I did embrace a new sense of style, but more importantly, I realised that I have to follow my dreams, irrespective of how people judge me.”
Babita Jaishankar, who helps individuals project the image they desire, says, “People form impressions on how someone presents themselves, behaves, their speech, posture, eye contact, and etiquette. There are a lot of people who need help branding themselves — women, job-seekers, corporate executives and their spouses, new moms, brides/grooms, mothers resuming work, lawyers and their clients, cancer survivors, singles etc.”
Babita Jaishankar 