Even as the split in the fashion industry has shown designers and organisers dividing loyalties between two industry bodies for the forthcoming fashion season beginning in September, for models it spells a "bonanza" with more opportunities.

A group of designers led by Sumeet Nair,formerly Executive Director of Fashion Design Council of India (FDCI), recently branched off to form another fashion body, Fashion Foundation of India (FFI). Both the groups are hosting fashion weeks in the national capital in October dates close to each other.

"Well, I think this divide has brought forward a host of opportunities for newcomers like me in the field," says Nikita, a model who would be showcasing designer clothes at the FDCI-backed Wills India Fashion Week (WIFW).

"Previously it was impossible to even get a chance to meet the top designers and today I see them frequently," she says.

Malvika, a model selected by the Delhi Fashion Week (DFI) says, "If I think objectively then I have my solidarity with the fashion industry. I think they should remain as one body otherwise if you see it is great for me there is no doubt that I have got more opportunities."

For newer entrants like Peeyush in the field it's just unbelievable that he'll be able to walk down a premier fashion show.

"Whenever I thought of being a model, it looked like a rough hard road to reach the top, but now with the divide I am just a step away from the top," says the model who is trying his luck on his own and not enlisting through a modeling agency, which helps models find work.

Many aspiring models echo his sentiments and say they feel that "they have the golden key to success." Not only models but designers too are finding the separation makes business sense.

"I am really sad at the split", says Rohit Gandhi associated with Wills Fashion week "but I must say that the divide has given us more variety and choice."

"Previously we could not easily open for new designers and models, the experiment with other fashion designers was also difficult, but now it's much larger and bigger," he adds.

The change now also puts the spotlight on the fight between model agencies, freelancers and organisers.

"The organisers are preferring agency models to freelancers," complained many freelancers who had come to put their potential to test at auditions held in the capital.

However, Sunil Sethi, President Fashion Design Council of India and organiser of Will's Lifestyle India Fashion Week says, "It's not that we do not select freelancers but sometimes we prefer agency models more."

"We have very little time in hand just now and the agency model are well groomed and ready to rock the floor, while the freelancers need training which is not always possible," he adds.

Aspiring models like Suzan, however, point out that whether you are promoted by an agency or are a freelancer does not matter, "On the ramp you just have your tag number and nothing else."