Pearl D'Souza
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru

Mangaluru, Aug 2: It would be quite the film story of a small-town boy making it to an international stage, as Alester D’Souza sets out for his pageant in Indonesia, on August 11. It may well be noted as the journey of a young man, particularly someone from our very own coast, growing in an industry that mostly seems to hold a bias against the gender.

Alester D’Souza has made Mangaluru proud, by emerging among the top three in Mr India Manhunt International 2016, which is a springboard to international fashion pageants. Manhunt International is a brand that has given an international platform to the likes of Rajat Bedi, Dino Moreo, Zulfi Syed, John Abraham, Rajeev Singh, and Muzamil Ibrahim. Alester will now, through the pageant, represent India in 'Man of the Year 2017' in Indonesia, which will be held from August 11 to 19.

Alester was selected for the international pageant 'Man of the Year 2017' after being the second runner up in Mr India Manhunt International, held in Delhi, last September. He was also crowned Mr Style in the final round there. The rigorous contest was judged based on several criteria including fitness, catwalk and runway skills, photogenic ability, physical attributes, personality and IQ.

Athletics to Fitness Training

A mechanical engineering graduate from MITE, Moodbidri, Alester, the son of Antony and Janet D’Souza, has been wonderfully supported both by his parents and friends. He has grown into the field over the years with the discipline that he owes to his being in athletics at a young age. "Since standard two, I was trained into athletics. I competed in it for eight years. After school, I used to get back home and go straight to the stadium where I trained under one of the best coaches in the city, Dinesh Kundur. He taught each one of us copious amounts of discipline. All his students have been highly disciplined and great achievers. After standard 10, I had certain issues and had to discontinue athletics. I could not get back to the same form and subsequently moved on to fitness. Although the training differs between the two, the discipline remains the same."

Alester was a state-level athlete in school and went on to represent Karnataka in the national-level athletics during his studies in St Aloysius School. During his Mechanical Engineering course at MITE engineering, he trained at a fitness centre in Mangaluru. He secured a place at VTU Body-Building contest in 2014. He even contested in body building competition and won Mr Konkan 2014. He was a sponsored athlete for Musclmania India in 2015, and was the second runner-up at Mr India Manhunt International 2016 where he won the 'Mr Style' and 'Man of the Year' title. Alester D'Souza has also judged the auditions of In5nity Mr and Miss Mangalore Beauty Pageant here, earlier this year, in March.

Besides film shoots for hospitals in Bengaluru and assignments in Mangaluru, Alester has walked for various shows and designers for a year and a half, in Bengaluru, Mumbai, Delhi, Pune, and Goa. "I keep travelling. I would not mind moving to other cities provided I get good projects," he said.

The dapper and suave Alester, reserved and composed in his speech, opened up in a conversation with daijiworld, about what the modelling profession entails, the discipline involved which is oft underrated, his experience in the pageants, inspiration and goals and his warm and candid side.

Excerpts

Q: How was your experience in the recent competition?

Ans: The recent one was the Mr India Manhunt International, in Delhi. There were 12 finalists, and I was among the top 3. The first place winner was sent to Manhunt International. I qualified for Man of the Year which will be held from August 11 to 19 in Indonesia - this will be my first international event.

Q: How are you preparing for 'Man of the Year 2017' and what would you say are your chances at the pageant?

Ans: I have been preparing for it for the past six months, working on my physique, fitness, and the talent round. Also, for the on-stage pageant interviews, I have been training myself for public speaking. I have a lot of people helping me- S A Anand,a grooming expert from Delhi has been preparing me for the on-stage speech. Fitness trainer Vikas Puthran  has been training me for the physique round.

Q: How did you start out and how has the journey been?

Ans: I started from Zeuse fitness. I started working out there six years back, and had seen a lot of models and actors emerge from there. I just got inspired, got into the field, and started modelling, when I chanced upon the Manhunt International, gave it a try and made it to top three. I had taken part in Musclemania for the first two years. I wasn't the best there.  But that prepared me for Mr India Manhunt International.

Different people have trained me for different things. Since it is a beauty pageant, you have various aspects to work on. I also take advice from most seniors from various fields.

I workout for an hour and a half. But, eating right and living a healthy life is the most important bit. People assume, by working 3-4 hours in the gym, you get a perfect body. It is untrue. The magic is all in the kitchen. When I am in Bengaluru for assignments and modelling or some other work, I cook for myself. It is sometimes difficult to keep up a healthy lifestyle with a packed schedule, and I have happened to miss the diet and workout for a couple of days. However, I make up for it when I am relatively free.

There are no defined work hours for a model. When it comes to doing shows, one has to be present early in the morning for rehearsals; the show goes on till late night. There is not much time for sleep. But, when  there are no assignments, you have a ton of free time, and when there is work, there is not a single breath to spare.

Q: Did you have a huge change in diet, considering our Manglaurean cuisine?

Ans: No. Nothing of the sort.

Q: What would be your piece of advice for aspiring models in Mangaluru?

Ans: Look for some real big shows, work for good pay, and do not work for free - that is the most important factor, because, once you start working for free, there are a lot of people who would exploit the situation at your expense. You then lose motivation and just quit. That is what happens most of the time. There is a lot of potential in Mangaluru. There have been a lot of models, actors from here. Many do not see any pay and eventually give up in two to three months. Getting paid for your work is key because, at the end of the day, everyone has to pay their bills. Also, models needs to choose the projects they work on. Do not do every project that comes your way. Choose reputed designers and professionals.

Q: What would be the struggles of someone in the field in Mangaluru?

Ans: The main aspect is financial, because nobody pays. Most agencies try to exploit work for free. That is one of the biggest struggles here.

Q: Any updates on the Kannada movie you were offered recently?

Ans: I got an offer in Sandalwood, but there seemed to be a bit of an issue, which made me not so keen on it. I have, at present, decided to wait for a year, get  good experience, and then perhaps take up a good project. I would consider moving into movies in a year or two.

Q: Do you see yourself in Coastalwood?

Ans: I do not mind it so long as it is a good project. But when I debut in acting I want to make it big, where everyone will know me, not just one particular community. The whole of Mangaluru or the entire country should know me.

Q: Would you then be interested in singing, records, music videos?

Ans: Not really. I am a terrible singer. Music videos - I would probably act in. So, even if I try to sing, I would not be the best. I listen to music but try not to sing.

Q: One side of Alester D’Souza nobody knows?

Ans: When people usually think about models they believe that we love to party and the like. If truth be told, it is not the case. We prefer hitting the gym, eating healthy and so forth. We are thought of as party freaks, which is entirely wrong more often than not.

Q: A recent conversation around has been about women in cricket and if one would prefer watching their matches. Have you watched the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup match? Rajeshwari Gayakwad and Veda Krishnamurthy, the two Karnataka girls, have made us proud. What are your comments in the regard?

Ans: Yes, I have watched the matches, and it is a proud moment. Unfortunately, right now, people hold male cricketers in high regard. There is no importance given to any other sport nor women's' cricket. Recently the women's relay team won a medal at the Asians, and nobody even knows it. We have had a Mangalurean athlete too who was a part of it, and her friends hardly hardly knew about it. It is good that other sports besides Men's Cricket are coming up, but things still need to improve and people, yet to equally enjoy them.

Q: Just like women's cricket, modelling and the fashion industry in general is considered biased towards a particular gender - is it apparent?

Ans: Yes, as there is a lot more demand for women's clothing than men's, which is why it is more biased towards women. The pay also differs. Women are paid more here.

Q: If you were to go back and change one event in your life that would help you now, what would it be?

Ans: I doubt I would change anything because I have learnt from everything in the past, be it negative or positive. I have learnt from my mistakes. There is nothing I would change.

Q: One misconception people had about Alester D’Souza which is partly true?

Ans: People assume I am innocent. So, probably that. People think I do not mingle around. It is partly true, as I take time to gel with people. But once that happens, I talk a lot. Until then, while I take the time to get along, I suppose that misconception holds.

Q: What keeps you going? Who is your inspiration for your profession and life in general?

Ans: I have to make a name for myself, go beyond the mainstream. That is the whole purpose. Be it any field, and I want to be the best. I have taken up modelling, and I want to be the best there.

Milind Soman inspires me. He is one of the inspirations for almost all models, I hear. Be it fitness or modelling; most consider him an inspiration. Yes, even for life. He has been doing everything possible, inspiring everyone and not just models. He is middle-aged and runs marathons barefoot!

Q: Where do you see yourself in the next ten years? When would you say you have achieved your target.

Ans: I do not think I would be satisfied with anything. When you set limits, and achieve the goal, that is generally the end of it. You do not see anything beyond, and decide to retire. It gets boring. I would always want to achieve more. Three years back, winning Mr India was one of my targets. Probably now it would be the international pageant. So, I do not think I would stop. I want to see myself growing constantly.

Q: When would you say Alester D’Souza has made it big?

Ans: Right now I would think it would be winning the international pageant Man of the Year. After that, I will be on the lookout for the next breakthrough.