You must have ogled at this dusky beauty every time she asked "Remember me from last night?" sitting pretty on billboards at road crossings. She's Nina Manuel, the girl who was first noticed in the San Miguel advertisement as the irresistible waitress. Since then she has carved a niche for herself in the fashion world.

She has walked the ramp for designers Sumeet Verma, J. J. Valaya and Raghvendra Rathore, and has also won Female Model of the Year at India's Fashion Awards, called F Awards, last November. The style icon reveals her fashion secrets.

Q: Where do you mostly shop from?
A: Abroad, when I am traveling on work. . . London, Paris, New York, Singapore and Bangkok. You have flea markets there, where you get different stuff. Sample stores in London are unique. No doubt, even in India you have all major designers, you have malls opening at every street corner. But I am not a designer freak. My dressing is quirky. I prefer the Japanese style.

Q: Any specific brands you prefer?
A: No, I don't believe in sticking to brands. I like to experiment. Fashion and trends change faster than seasons. However, I like European brand Miss Sixty for denims; they really fit well.

Q: Do you adorn yourself with accessories?
A: Not much. However, I love watches and have an assortment of them. But as I said, no particular brand.

Q: Which brand do you favour for footwear?
A: For sneakers, I prefer Puma and Adidas, and for sandals and boots, what I like is what I pick.

Q: What is your definition of fashion?
A: Fashion is something that is not constant. Feeling comfortable and cool is fashion. One should not copy. Always experiment; then you might become a trend-setter.

Q: Which is the latest perfume you bought?
A: I bought Burberry extreme, the fragrance is just amazing.

Q: Brand you prefer for lingerie?
A: Well, I certainly don't experiment with my lingerie. I wear Victoria's Secrets.

Q: Which colours do you think are a must in a wardrobe?
A: White, black, blue, yellow and green are must-haves. Green is my favourite.

Q: Do you follow a particular diet during monsoons?
A: Nothing specific, I just avoid eating out. -JAYANT MISHRA