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Avisha Tewani never meant to end up on camera. Or at least in front of it, anyway. The 35 year-old New York native had been working as a freelance stylist when a family member roped her into helping on a photoshoot for wedding and engagement rings. The pictures were sent to an agent and, within two weeks, she was earning her first pay cheque as a hand model. (Picture: Avisha Tewani/SWNS) She’s since built something of a glittering résumé for herself, with super high-end clients such as Dior, Chanel, Starbucks, Pepsi and Coca Cola. Her work now stretches across high-end beauty, lifestyle and luxury campaigns, often for brands so selective they’ll only have one or two samples of a product on set. ‘You have to make sure you get it right,’ she says. ‘They are relying on you to show your creativity and make the product look appealing.’ (Picture: Avisha Tewani/SWNS) Avisha’s hand or feet shoots (she’s also now a successful foot model) can run anywhere from two hours to a full twelve, with crews that range from a handful of photographers to 35 people adjusting every possible light and angle. Jobs can come in at the last minute too – sometimes as early as 7am the same day. ‘It is really tough,’ she says. ‘The client doesn’t know exactly what they’re looking for either.’ (Picture: Avisha Tewani/SWNS) The precision involved might surprise people. ‘A lot of people just assume shoots involve holding things,’ she says. ‘But it can be challenging.’ On one Chanel Valentine’s Day campaign, she spent two days on set, where her manicure was changed two or three times – and at one point, she held a live dove for the shot. (Picture: Avisha Tewani/SWNS) Keeping her hands flawless is pretty much a full-time job. Before each shoot, Avisha gets a manicure to match the client’s brief and moves through the day with extreme care. She’s swapped cycling for walking after fracturing her wrist and elbow in an earlier accident and retired from boxing altogether to avoid injury. (Picture: Avisha Tewani/SWNS) Even simple chores come with rules. ‘I used to never wear gloves doing the dishes but now I do more often,’ she says. ‘Generally I’m not walking around with gloves on all day every day – I know people that do that.’ When she works out, she wears lifting gloves to prevent callouses. Every small little precaution counts. After all, one chipped nail, damaged cuticle or cut to a fingertip could derail an entire shoot. (Picture: Avisha Tewani/SWNS) Her rates vary with each booking. ‘I can be paid anywhere between $300 (£230) to $400 (£300) a day to $2,500 (£1,900) to $3,000 (£2,300) – it depends on the client and what they’re looking for,’ she explains. For larger, global campaigns, brands also pay a usage fee, which can bump a day’s total up to $3,000. (Picture: Avisha Tewani/SWNS) Since signing with her first agent in August 2020, Avisha’s work has snowballed. She’s now represented by multiple agencies that specialise in different body parts – her hands, feet, legs, ears, and neck each have their own niche and earning potential. Her side business and styling work continue too, though modelling often takes priority when big campaigns call. (Picture: Avisha Tewani/SWNS) Her look, she says, has helped her find steady work. ‘Being a middle skin tone person right now is a very good thing for the industry,’ Avisha explains. ‘A lot of things are changing and a lot of clients looking for the ambiguous look or the middle skin tone. I’m getting more work which I’m very grateful for.’ (Picture: Avisha Tewani/SWNS) Between assignments, she still takes pride in the small details that make her work possible: smooth cuticles, a perfect nail shape, the right shade of polish… In an industry where one chipped nail can lose work, precision is everything. And for Avisha Tewani, that precision now pays her rather handsomely indeed. (Picture: Avisha Tewani/SWNS)
