Beauty Queens from India

Miss Universe

Sushmita Sen : She was the first Indian woman to be crowned Miss Universe in 1994. In 1994, at the age of eighteen, Sushmita won the title of Femina Miss India beating Aishwarya Rai, who was the runner up. Sen represented India at the 1994 Miss Universe Pageant, held in Manila, Philippines and won. Sen was born in a Bengali family. Her father, Shubeer Sen, was a former Indian Air Force Wing Commander and her mother, Subhra Sen, was as a fashion artist and jewelry designer. She was born in St.Theresa's hospital on 19 November 1975 in Hyderabad, India but grew up in New Delhi. She attended school at the Air Force Golden Jubilee Institute and graduated from Maitreyi College, Delhi. In 2000, she adopted a daughter, named Renee. Later on 13 January 2010 she adopted a three month old girl and named her Alisah.

Lara Dutta: She was born in Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh, India. Her father is Wing Commander L.K. Dutta (retired) and her mother is Jennifer Dutta. The Dutta family moved to Bangalore in 1981 where she completed high school from St.Francis Xavier Girls High School. Lara graduated in economics with a minor in communications from University of Mumbai. At Miss Universe 2000 in Cyprus, she was crowned Miss Universe which led to her appointment as a UNFPA Goodwill Ambassador in 2001.

Miss World

Reita Faria: Reita Faria was the first Indian to be crowned Miss World in 1966. Reita could make it to the top during those conservative times. Even today, India, the land of Kamasutra is filled with hypocrites.

Aishwarya Rai: After a long break, a gorgeous lady emerged in the fashion scene, popularly called as Ash. Ash made India proud in the year 1994 at Sun City, when she confidentially went on to claim the Miss World title. She was born in the South Indian state of Karnataka in Mangalore on 1 November 1973. She studied Architecture but simultaneously did modeling assignments also. Ash became a household name with the Pepsi ad campaign with Amir Khan. After winning Femina Miss India, she won the Miss World crown. Presently, she is married to Abhishek Bachchan and is a part of the prestigious Bachchan family of Bollywood.

Diana Hayden: After Aishwarya, Diana Hayden claimed the Miss World crown in 1997. She was born in 1973 in Hyderabad and comes from an Anglo-Indian family. Diana completed her schooling from the St Anns High School, Secunderabad. She graduated from the Osmania University in Hyderabad and started her career as a model.

Yukta Mookhey: She won the Miss World crown for India in 1999. Born on 7 October 1979 and has a degree in Zoology from VG Vaze College, Mulund. She also studied Fine Arts for 3 years. She had also been a student of classical music since she was 11 years old. She is married to Prince Tuli, a financial analyst and Director of the Tuli Group which has a chain of Hotels, Resorts, Malls and Educational institutions in Central India.

Priyanka Chopra: Priyanka Chopra made the country proud in 2000, when she won the coveted Miss World title. Born on 18 July 1982 to Capt. Ashok Chopra and Madhu Chopra. As such Priyanka comes from an army background. She started her education from La Martiniere Girls College in Lucknow and studied for a short while at Maria Goretti College in Bareilly. She completed her 10th from Boston, USA. After returning from Boston she received a call to participate in the Femina Miss India Pageant. She won the contest and went on to win the Miss World Beauty pageant.