Vogue India stated, "Lakshmi Menon has brought the supermodel back," and we couldn't agree more. The Indian beauty was born in the cosmopolitan city of Bangalore on November 4, 1981, and has become one of the most recognizable models of today.

But according to Lakshmi, her modeling career didn't start out with that momentum. "When I first signed with agencies in Europe and the U.S., I barely did anything. It was one show here, another there… There were a few black girls, of course, but there weren't many girls of color at all."

In one year, that all changed—and quickly. Lakshmi has already been in numerous campaigns, and was the sole face of Hermès in 2008. She's also landed the covers of magazines such as Vogue, L'Officiel, L'Officiel India, Biba, Vogue Paris, and V Magazine. Lakshmi has graced the cover of Vogue India numerous times, and was even featured on the cover for its premier issue in September 2007. Not to mention her countless appearances on the Spring 2008 runways walking for top industry names like Givenchy, Jean Paul Gaultier, Carolina Herrera, Diane von Furstenberg, Zac Posen, Vera Wang, Ohne Titel, Ralph Lauren, and more.

But this rising star also has a good head on her shoulders; a very good head, in fact. She has a degree in sociology and eventually plans to get her master's. Her intellectual capabilities and literary knowledge are very important to her. And for that she has bigger dreams than what even the fashion world has to offer. "I don't want to be 60 and find I've spent my life doing nothing but modeling. There are so many other things to do," she says. If anyone can accomplish those other things, Lakshmi can—and she will.