Model Elana Nair on finding her stride, embracing her roots, and the art of becoming.
Photography by Chuan Looi. Concept & art direction by Khairani Ramli. Styling & text by Abdul Aziz Draim. Elana Nair wears looks and accessories from the Ralph Lauren Collection Fall ’25.
“I only started modelling pretty recently in 2024, so I was still 22 at the time,” Elana Nair reflects with refreshing candour. At 23, this Kuala Lumpur native is carving out her place in Malaysia’s fashion landscape—not through a predetermined path to recognition, but through a series of organic moments that have led her to where she is today. Her journey speaks to a blend of confidence, cultural pride, and an endearing sense of self-awareness that cuts through fashion’s carefully curated world. “A friend of mine convinced me to go for The Models Lab KL casting—and I thought, why not? It was very much one of those ‘Let’s just see what happens’ moments … and somehow it turned into this whole new chapter.”
That spontaneous decision has proven rather prescient. This year’s Kuala Lumpur Fashion Week saw Nair command the runway with a conviction that belied her relative newcomer status, earning her recognition as one of the scene’s most promising talents. Yet she’s refreshingly honest about her evolution: “Last year, I was practically trying not to puke each time before I stepped onto the runway. This year, it was less about nerves and more about demonstrating poise and confidence … and still hoping I wouldn’t trip. Growth, right?”
