* Editor’s Note: This story has been updated from its original version
Lights. Camera. Pose.
While some teens scroll past modeling campaigns on social media, Coppell High School junior Nikki Balaji imagines herself inside them, not as the viewer, but as the vision.
For Balaji, modeling is not just about appearance, it is about embracing her identity. Every outfit and frame captures a version of who she is becoming through fashion and modeling.
After quitting gymnastics due to injuries in ninth grade, Balaji wanted to try something new since she had a lot of spare time. She started training for The Model and Talent Management Expo, an event designed to showcase models, actors and singers in front of agencies. What she thought would be a fun distraction quickly became much bigger in her life.
“At first, I did not realize The Model and Talent Management Expo was serious about it. But overtime, it was something very fun to do,” Balaji said.
As her interest for modeling grew, Balaji went out of state to model for campaigns to gain more experience as model. In September, she traveled to New York City for its 2025 Fashion Week and modeled for the Wow Wear line. New York fashion campaign director Micheal Galanes noticed Balaji’s professionalism, a quality making her stand out.
“Nikki is articulate and speaks with confidence and conviction,” Galanes said. “She has an amazing sense of fashion and did an amazing job on stage. I believed in her from the start.”
In October, Balaji visited Miami for the Barron Deparre modeling bootcamp. She had a 10-hour photo shoot, attended modeling classes going over basics and started to prepare for the Citrus Pageant she will be attending in February.
“I learned the importance of networking by participating in the camp and I met many people in the industry who are willing to help me grow,” Balaji said.
Balaji’s travels give her a closer look at how the fashion and modeling world functions behind the scenes. These opportunities led to more exposure to the business side of fashion, something Balaji hopes to pursue in the future.
“I’m hoping to use the experience that I get from these modeling events to help guide my career,” Balaji said. “I want to be in the business side of the fashion industry and it is hard to get into if you do not know the right people, so I am hoping this will help me network and gain experience so I have an understanding of the industry.
As Balaji learns more about the fashion world, her ambitions expand. For Balaji, she does not just want to be part of the fashion industry, but she wants to also help define it.
“I hope to be working for a luxury brand, maybe doing branding or marketing,” Balaji said. “If there is any way to cross paths with a creative director, I would love to be an assistant.”
Throughout Balaji’s childhood, fashion is something that has always been a part of her life. Balaji’s mom, Sangeetha Srinivasan, has seen the dedication from the beginning.
”Even as a little girl, she had her own choice in clothes and would never wear what we picked for her,” Srinivasan said. “We like to travel a lot, so in every photo, she would have her own props and she would pose.”
In a field defined by trends, Balaji finds motivation in representation. Seeing other South Asian models thrive reminds her that fashion can also be cultural.
”I find it so cool that we have a lot of South Asian representation now,” Balaji said. “Lara Raj is kind of my role model because she always incorporates Indian culture into her looks.”
Over time, modeling has done more than build Balaji’s style, it built her confidence. She has learned to embrace who she is and carry her pride.
“Modeling really brought out a new side of her,” Colleyville Heritage High School senior Isabell Nisbett said. “It has 100% helped her become more confident and it is something everyone around her can see.”
As Balaji’s story is still being written, she continues to grow both with confidence and experience. She hopes her journey reminds others that success is not about fitting in, but standing out for who you really are.
“Stay true to yourself, make sure that the image you are showing is actually you,” Balaji said.
Follow @CHSCampusNews on X.
