"I've always been more artistic than academic."
Making a college summer break count has taken on a new meaning for Yug Sanjay Devalia, who has made his runway debut at Paris Fashion Week for the Dior Menswear Spring/Summer 2027 show.
The 19-year-old mechanical engineering student from Borivali, Mumbai, stepped onto one of fashion’s biggest stages.
The appearance marks a rare breakthrough for a young Indian male model entering the global luxury circuit at an early stage in his career.
While preparing to enter his third year of engineering at Dwarkadas J Sanghvi College of Engineering, Yug’s path into modelling began through a growing interest in creative expression alongside his academic life.
He said: “To be one of the first Indian male models to walk for Dior menswear feels like a piece of history.
“I’ve always been more artistic than academic.
“Even in school, I was always sketching, drawing. I would see images on my phone from websites like Amazon or Flipkart, the catalogues, and think: what if I wanted to be one of those faces?”
That interest eventually translated into opportunity through a family connection.
A cousin was friends with 28Models founder Showin Bishop.
When Bishop visited Mumbai to scout talent, the cousin shared Yug’s portfolio. Two weeks later, Yug was selected to model for the Dior show.
Before reaching Paris, he trained for around six weeks at Vision Vogue Academy under Sahil Singh, learning the technical discipline behind runway modelling and presentation.
Show day began early, with a 5 am call time, a sharp contrast to his usual student routine.
Yug’s initial nerves quickly gave way to focus once he stepped under the runway lights at Paris Fashion Week.
Behind the scenes, he also saw the scale of coordination required to stage a luxury show at that level.
Alongside fellow model Aryan Prakash, he was among a small group of Indian male models featured in the Dior presentation, reflecting a still-limited but slowly growing presence on European runways.
Back in Mumbai, his debut was closely followed by his family.
He lives with his parents, sister and grandmother, with his father working as an interior designer and his sister studying for a master’s degree in Data Science.
He said their reaction shifted over time as they saw his progress in the industry.
Yug said: “They were very excited, of course, and it took them a while to process why I was going to Paris for a fashion show.
“Initially, when I started exploring modelling, they were worried; they know it’s difficult to break into the industry. But, of course, they trusted me and I trust them. Now they’re so proud.”
In a separate reflection shared on Instagram after his Paris Fashion Week debut, Yug Sanjay Devalia highlighted both the personal and emotional weight of the moment.
“My younger self would not believe this.
“I grew up in Dahisar East, Mumbai. With my mom, my dad, my sister, my grandmother, everyone under one roof. That is just how we do it. That is who we are. Close. Together always.
“My mom trying to understand why her son is suddenly travelling to Paris. My dad quietly adapting, saying nothing but meaning everything. My sister who never stopped believing.
“My family who showed up for every single step without even fully understanding where the steps were leading.
“The last few weeks have been so magical, so surreal, so fast.
“And through all of it, they were right there. All of them. Together. Like always. I am a dreamer.
“I have always been a dreamer. But to go from dreamer to Dior, that is something I will never be able to fully put into words.
“This is my family watching me debut with Dior. My first show. For every kid from Mumbai who was told the dream was too big. It is not.”
Despite the sudden acceleration of his career, Yug remains committed to completing his engineering degree before fully transitioning into modelling after graduation:
“Right now I’m on holiday from college. I’m studying Mechanical Engineering and I’ll be starting my third year at Dwarkadas J Sanghvi College of Engineering once I go back.
“Once I graduate, I’m going to completely focus on modelling.”
Looking ahead, Yug is open to returning to Dior. But at the top of the list is modelling for Prada.
For now, his journey sits between two worlds: the structured pace of engineering in Mumbai and the fast-moving global circuit of luxury fashion.
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