This 19-year-old boy from Borivali just walked for Dior

It’s been almost 48 hours since Yug Sanjay Devalia made his international runway debut, walking for Dior menswear spring/summer 2027 in Paris. When I log on to talk to the 19-year-old model from Mumbai, Paris is in the middle of a heatwave, so he shows me the stand fan he keeps beside the bed at his apartment on Rue Cler, just a few minutes away from the Eiffel Tower. Dressed in a long-sleeved white T-shirt and jeans, Devalia, however, looks fresh, still exhilarated by the events of the day before. It’s a much more low-key avatar than his Dior runway look that saw him don trousers and a cropped checked jacket over a checked shirt, like a young aristocrat sauntering home from a night out. He and fellow model Aryan Prakash, who also walked for the show, are two of the only male Indian models to walk for the brand. Ahead, Devalia shares his thoughts from the day and his journey to Paris.

Who is at home cheering for you?

I live in Borivali [Mumbai] with my family—that’s my mother, father, sister, and grandmother. My father is an interior designer—he runs his own business—and my sister is doing her Master’s in Data Science.

How did your family react?

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.

How did you feel on show day?

I was a little nervous but also excited. Then once I stepped on the runway I stayed very calm, focussed. I just wanted to do a good job. The whole day got over so quickly. To be one of the first Indian male models to walk for Dior menswear feels like a piece of history.

What’s your origin story?

So, my cousin actually knows the agent Showin [Bishop, founder of 28Models]. They’re friends. And at some point Showin was coming to Mumbai to scout for models and so he showed him my photos. Fifteen days later I was walking for Dior.

Did you always know you wanted to work in fashion?

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?

Where did you practise your model walk?

I trained for a month and a half at Vision Vogue Academy in Mumbai. Founder Sahil Singh, who’s also a model, really guided me on things like how to walk and pose. I was part of his second batch of students.

What’s next for you?

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.

What’s been the highlight of your time in Paris?

Visiting the Eiffel Tower at night, just walking around, taking in all the clean air and peace. I’ve met other models who are here from India as well, so we go for castings together, hang out, and take in the city.

What time did you wake up on the morning of the show?

I woke up at 3:30 am because the call time was 5 am. I’m normally not a morning person. Since I’ve been in Paris I’ve been drinking coffee instead of my usual chaa doodh, what we call milky tea in Gujarati.

What’s something you learned about the fashion industry during the show?

That you have to be patient and that it takes real collaboration, a real collective to make something happen.

What’s a brand you would like to walk for in the future?

Prada, definitely. Dior, of course, would be amazing again. I loved the purse that I was given to carry.