Urpika Chakma: The Art of Becoming

Built From Structure

For Urpika Chakma, modeling began with a fascination for something deeper than fashion — the “art of structure.” She is drawn to the way light, shadow, anatomy, and movement interact to create depth, and modeling gives her a way to explore those elements through her own body.

 

Rather than simply being in front of the camera, she sees herself as part of an artistic process — using her body as a reference for form, movement, and expression.

 

“I am fascinated by the ‘art of structure’.”

That curiosity shapes the way she approaches modeling: observant, physical, and deeply connected to the details that make an image feel alive.

 

Fashion as a Conversation With Herself

For Urpika, fashion is personal. It isn't simply about what looks good; it is about communicating who she has become.

 

She describes her style as millennial, chic, and kinetic, but beneath those words is something more intimate. Fashion allows her to connect her present self with the person she once was — almost like sending a message back to her younger self.

 

“My style is a message to my inner child.”

There is confidence in that statement, but also tenderness. Every outfit becomes a reminder that she now has the tools, freedom, and structure to build the life she once imagined.

 

 

Inspired by Identity

Her inspirations come from different places. In modeling, she looks toward Yasmin Wijnaldum and Mona Tougaard, drawn to their presence and individuality.

 

But her artistic admiration extends beyond fashion. Tenzing Chakma holds a particularly meaningful place in her creative world. Coming from the same community, she looks up to his work with Shozpodor and the way he represents culture through his art.

 

For Urpika, representation isn't distant or abstract. It is something she recognizes in the people who create from their own identity and make space for others to see themselves.

 

 

Be a Threat

Her advice to aspiring models sounds almost like a personal manifesto:

“You are you, the way you are. Keep going. Be a threat. Enjoy it.”

It is advice she says she gives herself every day.

 

There is no attempt to make the journey sound easy. Instead, she focuses on persistence, self-belief, and enjoying the process while continuing to push forward.

 

Before a shoot or show, her mental preparation is equally direct: “Do it better, keep it better.”

 

Improvement, for her, isn't about becoming someone else. It is about sharpening what already exists.

 

 

Burning Pika

There is another side to Urpika that appears when she steps onto the runway.

 

She calls her alter ego “Burning Pika” — her angry self, the version of her that turns intensity into presence.

 

That energy becomes particularly visible when the lights come on and the audience begins watching. Her runway mindset is unapologetic:

“I am the main character of this hall, get your eyes blessed y’all.”

 

It is playful, dramatic, and completely self-assured.

And perhaps that is exactly what she wants people to take away from seeing her: not a constructed character, but her, exactly as she is.

 

 

Blazers, Black and a Little Bit of Chaos

Her wardrobe reflects that confidence. If she could choose one outfit forever, it would be a black casual blazer with formal pants. Blazers, unsurprisingly, are also what make her feel most powerful.

 

But there is a softer, more playful side too. If she could steal a fictional character's wardrobe, she'd choose Emily from Emily in Paris for her colourful and positive energy.

 

The contrast feels very Urpika — structured and sharp one moment, expressive and unpredictable the next.

 

Even her answer about the weirdest item she secretly loves is unapologetically honest.

“My underwears.”

No overthinking. No unnecessary explanation. Just Urpika.

 

 

Finding a Different Kind of Fashion Space

Her experience with Arka has been straightforward: “Perfecto.”

 

But what stands out to her is how different the platform feels within Bangladesh's fashion landscape. She describes it as modernized and cool, offering experiences that people rarely get to encounter locally.

 

For her, Arka represents fashion as exploration — a place where people can encounter ideas, aesthetics, and experiences that aren't always easily accessible within the country's traditional fashion ecosystem.

 

Her own experience has also brought greater visibility and new connections, while giving her opportunities to explore herself through different creative environments.

 

 

The Runway That Stayed With Her

Among her runway memories, one stands out immediately: walking for RÂNOW.

“Runway for RANOW, goated loved it enjoyed it.”

 

There is no complicated story attached to the memory. She simply loved it.

Sometimes the best runway moments aren't about a particular milestone or dramatic event. They're about the feeling of being exactly where you want to be — under the lights, inside the clothes, moving with the music, and completely present.

Becoming

Ultimately, Urpika's relationship with modeling seems to come back to one central idea: becoming.

 

She uses fashion to bridge the person she was with the person she is now. She uses modeling to explore structure, movement, anatomy, and identity. She uses the runway to become louder, bolder, and more unapologetic.

She doesn't want people to see a version of her created for their approval.

She wants them to see her as she is.

And when the lights hit, Burning Pika takes over.