The Girl from Tomorrow

A model, presenter, lawyer and businesswoman, Jannatul Ferdoush Peya is living her best life. She is currently kept very busy presenting at the BPL matches as well as preparing for the launch of her new business next month, an enterprise that doles out a co-working space.

Peya is open about her life and journey as well as her clothing, for which she has had to face much backlash. “I didn’t care then, I don’t care now,” she says confidently. She reassures us that online ‘trolls’ only talk about important people, especially women trying to further their career. She has modelled internationally and flown the flag for Bangladesh on the global stage; that is enough for her.

People close to Peya say she didn’t choose modelling, rather modelling chose her. This is because she possesses the exact features required in a model – height, slender build, and perfect skin. However, her height was not always a benefit as her life in Khulna was made a living hell by people commenting on her appearance that was quite out of place in a small town in Bangladesh. “My mother sent me to Dhaka to escape the torments, not to become a model. Can you believe it?” she asks.

Peya feels she succeeded at many things before she turned 30, with the exception of cinema. She finished college and wanted to be a barrister but knew it would need a lot of money so worked and saved up for it. In 2011 she participated in the World Miss University competition in South Korea which was a turning point in her life. There were many things she had to do at competitions abroad which she was uncomfortable with initially. But she decided that it was part of her profession and agreed.

Now, Peya is unphased by anything. She wore a bikini in Korea and did bikini photoshoots in many other places since. She believes that if you have the support of your family, you can accomplish anything. Her appearance on the 2016 ninth anniversary issue of Vogue India gave her the much-awaited international recognition.

The cover story shed lights on celebrating the diversity of beauty and Peya truly embodied that essence. With her husband by her side, Peya is ready to take on the world. The local fashion industry will always be grateful to her for showing the path to all those girls who aspired to reach for the stars and keeps moving no matter how tough the journey is.