harsahej

Modeling for New Balance&rsquo;s &ldquo;Runners Aren&rsquo;t Normal&rdquo; campaign was one of the most personal and meaningful experiences of my life. As the first Sikh to be featured in this campaign, it wasn&rsquo;t just about being part of a global brand moment; it was about showing up for every kid who had never seen someone like themselves represented in this space. The campaign itself was centered on the idea that runners don&rsquo;t have to fit one standard or stereotype. It celebrated real people who approach running in their way, with their own stories, struggles, and identities. Being part of that narrative meant a lot to me because it was rooted in authenticity and challenged the idea of what a &ldquo;runner&rdquo; should look like. I wasn&rsquo;t cast just to look cool in sneakers, I was cast to represent a voice and a background that rarely gets this kind of platform. Seeing my face on the largest billboard in New York City, in the middle of Times Square, was surreal. It wasn&rsquo;t just about visibility, it was about making space. It reminded me why I do this work. Because every time someone from an underrepresented community sees that image, it plants a seed that they can belong here too.
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Meet Harsahej Anand

Being involved in the casting process for New Balance&rsquo;s &ldquo;Runners Aren&rsquo;t Normal&rdquo; campaign was just as meaningful to me as being in front of the camera. I didn&rsquo;t want this to be another campaign where diversity was an afterthought; I wanted the people featured to reflect the message the brand was trying to send. I helped identify talent who brought something real and different to the table, whether that was their story, their background, or the way they approached running and movement. It was important to me that the people cast weren&rsquo;t just models, but individuals who challenged the idea of what a runner looks like and why they do it. I fought for representation that felt honest, people from underrepresented communities, creatives who wouldn&rsquo;t normally be in a campaign like this, and voices that needed to be heard. This campaign wasn&rsquo;t about looking cool in sneakers. It was about shifting culture, and I&rsquo;m proud that the talent I helped bring in played a role in making that message feel true and grounded. &nbsp;
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Get to know the talented media professional Harsahej Singh Anand and his passion for creating impactful stories that resonate with diverse audiences.