Meet Riya Subodh, Winner of India’s ‘Next Top Model’

There’s a new top model in town.

Model Riya Subodh won the the third season of “India’s Next Top Model.”

Photo via Instagram / @mtvindia

Subodh, who hails from Ahmedabad in the state of Gujarat, was up against Sabita Karki and Shweta Raj in the season finale which aired on Dec. 16.

Photo via Instagram / @mtvindia

She was declared the winner by judges Malaika Arora, Milind Soman and Dabboo Ratnani, while Karki and Raj placed first and second runners-up, respectively.

According to the Indian Express, Subodh, who comes from a conservative background, won hearts when she competed with “honesty” during a bikini round.

While she has not been trained in modeling, she performed at par with other contestants during the season.

Subodh particularly caught the eyes of head judge, actor-model Arora, who also served as the show’s host.

According to the Times of India, she said after winning:

“‘India’s Next Top Model’ is a lifetime experience for me. I am saying this because from all the contestants, I was the only one who had no experience of the big fashion world in big cities like Mumbai.”

“As I look back, I must say that this wouldn’t have been possible without my parent’s support, and a special thanks to the makers of the show who gave me the new identity of a model,” she continued.

Subodh recalled a photoshoot with Arora and Soman as the biggest highlight of her INTM journey:

“The biggest highlight for me was the photoshoot with Milind Sir and Malaika Ma’am. When I decided to take part in ‘India’s Next Top Model,’ I knew that this show is going to change my life forever so when judges announced my name as the winner I had all the memories coming back.”