Just after becoming Miss World. Sun City, South Africa, 1994.

20th of November 1994 was Sunday, a day most people look forward to. And this weekend was made even more pleasant, thanks to a 21 year old girl from Bombay who had already wowed the whole of India. Late at night in the imperial city of a newly freed country, Aishwarya proved equal to the hopes of her well-wishers- and she had earned a lot of them in the new country. Of course the crowd favourite was Miss South Africa, the home beauty- and they were not disappointed, as Miss Basetsane Julia was adjudged first runner-up. But as Aishwarya was crowned, there was no less a cheer than what could have been expected had it been her own aamchi Mumbai. "I cannot believe it…this is the happiest moment of my life." One does not care much for what she said- "Compassion for the underprivileged and looking beyond the barriers set up by men"- in her reply to the ideal qualities for the Miss World. But it will be a long time before anyone forgets that jubilant face.

India had become very hot on 21st of May that very year. Unexpectedly, Sushmita Sen became Miss Universe. She had an advantage- nobody expected anything from her. She wasn't too pretty either- her main assets being an intelligent mind, poise and linguistic competence, and which finally won her the crown. Having once already been snubbed at the Miss India finals, it was pressure time for Aishwarya. One could imagine it for oneself- here was the most beautiful Indian about to enter the Miss World finals, with the hopes and expectations of a whole nation (the second most populous nation, in fact). Of course the organisers (Femina) said that there was no pressure on her, but only Aishwarya would have known. As she went to Sun City, the stage for the finals, expectations grew even more. She immediately became very popular among the contestants, as well as the crowd favourite. She then became Miss Photogenic, the most high-profile preliminary round title (many of the Miss Photogenic go on to win the title finally). And then there was the pageant final. The rest is history.

One does not know how many of those ideal qualities she had enumerated as prerequisite for Miss World she herself possessed, or practiced once she had become Miss World. One does not care. Miss Worlds are required to make pretty speeches, give prettier poses before the camera. What all see, and many remember, is the face. Anyone can forget the one year of reign as Miss World as she shuttled from one part of the world to another, but one cannot forget her (and now that she is a Bollywood actress, it is impossible). One remembers her very late coming to India. One remembers her attending many parties, meeting the President, the Prime Minister, Sonia Gandhi, cutting ribbons, visiting hospitals, visiting disadvantaged children and endorsing Pepsi door to door. One remember the many stories which the media wrote about her rivalry with Sushmita Sen. One remembers the antique cars which brought them to the 1995 Femina Miss India final and the consummate felicitation that they found from Femina. It was seemingly a long year, and almost everyday there was something being written about her, or a picture of hers. And then the year ended as abruptly as it had started. Miss World had now become a former Miss World. But she had won over the hearts of many of her lovers and fans, and she will live forever there- as Miss World.