There was a time when a model had to practically starve themselves in order to make it in the industry. Fortunately, those days are largely over thanks to campaigns that promote body positivity. But while plus size models are becoming more common, they still tend to be overwhelming White. This is what makes 34-year-old Bishamber Das so unique. The daughter of Indian Punjabi and Malaysian parents, Das hopes the success she is having will open the doors for other south Asians who want to contribute to diversity in the modeling world. Bishamber embraces her mixed identity and incorporates her culture and heritage into her career as a model. But she doesn’t merely plan to get by on looks alone; she possesses a degree in law and criminology and speaks an impressive five languages.