Green Business
Amit Samson Nanoo, Founder of Katwalk Academy and the State Director and Licensee for Femina Miss India Uttar Pradesh. Although his professional background lies in Information Technology, Amit has always been deeply passionate about mentoring young talent and creating platforms that help individuals discover their confidence and potential. Through Katwalk Academy, his vision has been to provide structured grooming, confidence-building, and personality development for aspiring models and pageant contestants, particularly those from Uttar Pradesh. The goal is not merely to prepare them for the fashion and pageant industries, but also to empower them with communication skills, a sense of purpose, and leadership qualities. Organising Femina Miss India Uttar Pradesh has been a significant milestone in this journey, allowing talented young women from the state to step onto the national stage and pursue their dreams with dignity. For Amit, this initiative is about more than fashion; it is about empowering individuals to discover their potential and represent their state with pride and purpose…
Q: Tell us how Katwalk Academy came into existence and describe the journey so far.
The idea emerged from the realisation that whilst there is immense talent across Lucknow and the wider Uttar Pradesh region, structured grooming and professional guidance within the pageant and fashion industries were limited. Katwalk Academy was established to bridge this gap—bringing global grooming standards, mentorship, and opportunities to the region. From the outset, Katwalk Academy has focused on holistic personality development rather than just catwalk training. The academy instructs participants in communication, stage presence, confidence-building, etiquette, and overall grooming so that they may represent themselves with purpose on larger platforms. A defining milestone arrived when Katwalk Academy became the official state licence holder for Femina Miss India Uttar Pradesh 2026. This marked a historic moment, as the academy began organising the prestigious state-level competition, creating a direct gateway for young women from Uttar Pradesh to compete on the national stage. The successful crowning of Sania Mukherjee as the state winner demonstrated the academy’s commitment to excellence, transparency, and empowerment.
Q: What major challenges have you faced while grooming young models in a traditionally conservative state like Uttar Pradesh?
One of the primary challenges is social perception. In many parts of the state, careers in modelling or pageantry are still misunderstood. Families often associate the industry only with glamour, without realising that modern pageants focus heavily on confidence, intelligence, communication skills, and social purpose. Convincing parents that this platform can help their daughters grow as individuals is often the first step in the journey. Additionally, balancing tradition with modern aspirations is important in a state like UP. We encourage participants to embrace their cultural roots—whether it is language, heritage, or traditional attire—while preparing them for national and international platforms.
Q: What role does environmental education play in your curriculum to transform models from ‘faces’ into ‘ambassadors for change’?
At Katwalk Academy, we strongly believe that a modern model or pageant contestant should be much more than just a beautiful face. Environmental education in our curriculum focuses on building responsibility and awareness. We encourage our participants to understand the impact of everyday choices—whether it is fashion consumption, plastic use, or lifestyle habits—on the environment. When young women step onto national platforms like Femina Miss India, they should not only look confident but also speak meaningfully about issues that matter to society.
Q: What steps does the academy take to ensure eco-friendly photo shoots, such as utilising natural lighting or choosing energy-efficient studios?
At Katwalk Academy, we believe that fashion and creativity should go hand in hand with environmental responsibility. During photo shoots and portfolio productions, we consciously adopt practices that help reduce environmental impact while maintaining professional quality. One of the key steps we take is maximising the use of natural lighting. Whenever possible, outdoor locations or studios with large natural light sources are preferred. This not only reduces electricity consumption but also creates a more authentic and natural aesthetic in photographs.
Q: In an industry known for overconsumption, how do you teach students to prioritise quality over quantity in their professional portfolios?
In an industry often driven by trends and visual overload, one of the most important lessons we teach at Katwalk Academy is that a powerful portfolio is not about having many pictures, but about having the right pictures. We guide our students to focus on quality, versatility, and authenticity rather than trying to create dozens of images. A well-structured portfolio with a few strong photographs—such as a clean headshot, a natural profile shot, a fashion look, and a personality-driven image—can communicate far more than a large collection of repetitive photos.
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