The Return Of The Supermodel Ketholeno Kense

Meet the Naga supermodel who’s setting the fashion industry ablaze with her lithe beauty.

- Ravina Rawal

Dimapur-born model Ketholeno Kense has no inspirational struggle-stories to tell about making it to the big leagues. And she did it in three short years. “I love it,” she says. “I wake up in the morning, have breakfast, and go to work. I come back at night, shower, and sleep,” she says, almost too breezily, as if she’s a banker with a regular day job. “Sometimes I wake up earlier than I need to and just lie in bed till my alarm rings…” she continues, sending herself into a fit of giggles because I’m trying to keep a straight face.

Of course, she’s making it sound easy. Which it can’t have been. A student of economics, Leno (as she’s known to the fashion crowd) was pushed by her friends into entering the Miss Northeast Supermodel contest in 2011. At 5’8”, she was the tallest girl in her class, and embarrassed by it because none of the boys would stand near her. She surprised herself by winning. A few projects followed, but she was sure that she would never seriously consider a whole career in modelling.