My top 10 fashion heroes - Ritika Pabla

10. Sophia Amoruso: Born and raised in California, Sophia holds a special place in my heart. She started an online thrift store business by purchasing clothes in local San Francisco shops, and reselling the items on eBay. She slowly started to gain traction as her business began to boom and later started her own company called Nasty Gal. I admire her drive and passion, elevating her business from thrift stores to her own company. Although she faced many challenges, she never gave up. You can watch her story in the show Girl Boss on Netflix.

9. Gianni Versace: From the creative energy he applied to his work to the courage of expressing his sexuality, Gianni was a man who simply wanted to live. He wasn’t afraid to show his true self, whether it was through his designs or the people who surrounded him. He was big on helping out his community and treated every person with respect. His employees and staff spoke highly of Versace, as he looked after them as his own. It’s unfortunate a man with such great talent and care for people was murdered; however, his art will live through his empire.

8. Cher: The goddess of pop was not afraid to stand out and be bold. Cher is someone I see as an iconic trendsetter, with her bohemian looks and sheer prints. Even today, she is not afraid at the age of 73. It’s not just her fashion, but she also follows such amazing skincare routines, which is her secret for looking so young. She has always been represented as a fearless and powerful woman in the fashion industry and will continue to do so.

7. Audrey Hepburn: Simplicity and chic fashion is how Audrey expressed herself. With her well-tailored clothes and gentle demeanour, she is someone who embodied the lady-like behaviour. She was also very bright and proved herself in the film industry as a successful actress and a humanitarian. With her little black dress and pearls, you can never go wrong with this fashion look.

6. Marilyn Monroe: Proud to show off her curves, Marilyn Monroe gave women the courage to express themselves however they wished. She didn’t care what the people had to say about her, even when a journalist called her ‘cheap and vulgar’ and that she’d look better in a potato sack. She then did exactly that and rocked a form fitting burlap potato sack in a photo-shoot, which of course she looked fabulous in.

5. Priyanka Chopra: From her days in Bollywood to now her married life as a Jonas, Priyanka has expressed her fashion in various different looks. Her fashion is ever evolving, but she continues to showcase her personality through bright and spunky colours. She brings her attire to life with her confidence and grace. I love how she challenges her look by creating never before seen designs at red carpet events. I look forward to seeing what other ideas she has in store.

4. Rihanna: When I think of Rihanna, I think of her as a lioness. She is strong, bold and effortlessly beautiful. She is one who can make anything look good. Through her various looks, Rihanna showcases her ability to be versatile. I believe you are able to make any article of clothing look appealing, as long as you know how to rock it, and Rihanna is one who knows best.

3. Mani Jassal: One of my favourite types of clothing is modernised Indian looks. The Mani Jassal collection is absolutely beautiful and captures such amazing prints that fuse together Indian and western designs. The Toronto-based designer presents elegant and luxury fashion with a touch of culture. You can find various different patterns and designs on her social media page or her website.

2. Micah Gianneli: One of the first fashion bloggers that I started to follow. With amazing high quality fashion photos, Micah’s social media pages gained rapid popularity. This Australia-based digital influencer is all about high quality content and creating achievable looks. She tells a visual story through her feed as a powerful and fashionable content creator.

1. Tyra Banks: The queen of being fierce, Tyra is someone I have looked up to from a young age. I admire her trajectory in fashion as a successful model, TV personality, producer, businesswoman, actress and more. Not only has she helped out hundreds of inspiring models, but also gave hope to thousands of little girls, including myself. She taught me how to ‘smize’, which means to smile with your eyes, and this is how I was able to start my career in modelling.

Ritika Pabla is a model, social media influencer, radio host and fashion enthusiast.

Instagram: @outfitzbyritz