Tamanna Katoch: The Model Who Stole the Spotlight Behind Janhvi Kapoor at Lakmé Fashion Week
Mumbai, April 3, 2025 – Tamanna Katoch, a rising Indian supermodel, has become the talk of the fashion world after her poised and commanding ramp walk at Lakmé Fashion Week (LFW) 2025 overshadowed Bollywood star Janhvi Kapoor. On March 29, during designer Rahul Mishra’s AFEW collection showcase, Kapoor led the runway as the celebrity showstopper, but it was Katoch, trailing right behind her, who captured the internet’s attention with her elegance and confidence.
Who Is Tamanna Katoch?
Born in Himachal Pradesh and raised in New Delhi, Tamanna Katoch is a professional model carving a name for herself in India’s competitive fashion scene. She graduated with a Bachelor’s in Journalism and Mass Communication from Lingaya’s Lalita Devi Institute of Management & Sciences in 2018, according to her LinkedIn profile. Before fully embracing modeling, she briefly worked in public relations, joining Communications Inc. in 2018 and later signing with TSS Talent Agency in September 2022.
Katoch’s modeling journey began in college, where she honed her skills at fashion shows and events. A contestant on India’s Next Top Model Season 4, she has since walked for top designers like Manish Malhotra, Falguni Shane Peacock, Ankita Jain, and Sulakshna Monga. Featured in Vogue India for Malhotra’s collections and campaigns for mobile and clothing brands, she’s steadily built a portfolio that blends commercial appeal with high fashion. Her Instagram, boasting over 17,000 followers, reflects her mantra—“Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication”—with bold, elegant posts showcasing her runway prowess.
The LFW Moment That Went Viral
At LFW, held at Mumbai’s Jio World Centre, Janhvi Kapoor strutted in a black Bandhani bodycon gown with a thigh-high slit, shedding a long coat mid-walk for dramatic effect. Yet, her “hurried” and “bouncy” performance drew flak online, with netizens spotting double-sided tape on her dress and critiquing her lack of runway grace. Enter Tamanna Katoch, who followed in a sleek black bodycon dress with side slits and ruffled detailing, paired with tied-up heels and a wet-hair look. Her confident, fluid walk—first solo, then behind Kapoor—lit up social media.
A video Katoch posted on Instagram, juxtaposing her solo strut with the finale walk behind Kapoor, exploded online. Comments flooded in: “Let’s pretend there was no Janhvi,” “Your walk is fire, teach that little Kapoor,” and “Line second se shuru hoti hai” (the line starts from the second). Many dubbed her the “real showstopper,” igniting a debate about Bollywood celebrities overshadowing professional models at fashion events.
A Subtle Shade and a Larger Conversation
Katoch fueled the fire by resharing an Instagram story urging Indian designers to “stop making Bollywood celebs showstoppers,” a sentiment echoing fans who felt her walk outshone Kapoor’s. “The model was actually good at her job, and it highlighted Janhvi’s incompetency,” one Reddit user wrote. Another added, “Every model’s dream is to be a showstopper, but celebs who can’t even do it properly keep taking that spot.” The discourse has spotlighted a growing call for designers to prioritize trained models over star power—a tension LFW’s 25th year, packed with celebs like Kareena Kapoor Khan and Karan Johar, only amplified.
What’s Next for Katoch?
While Kapoor preps for films like Peddi and Sunny Sanskari Ki Tulsi Kumari, Katoch’s LFW moment has cemented her as a talent to watch. Her viral walk—praised for its poise and professionalism—has thrust her into the limelight, with fans and industry insiders alike buzzing about her potential. As the fashion world debates who truly owns the runway, Tamanna Katoch’s stride behind Janhvi Kapoor has proven one thing: sometimes, the spotlight finds you, even from the second row.
