Since the contestants are evaluated on a number of factors, such as intelligence and physical appearance, winning the title of Miss India is not an easy feat.

Miss India, one of the most prestigious beauty pageants, offers thousands of young Indian women a platform and a chance. Many people use the Miss India pageant as a way to break into the glamourous world, while others use it as a chance to learn more about and promote a cause that is dear to their hearts. View the list of Miss India award winners.

At the competition recently held in Israel, Harnaaz Sandhu, who is from Chandigarh, was named Miss Universe 2021 on December 12. The third Indian lady to win the crown, she did so. The one who inspires us to be proud is not her, though. Many such stunning Indian women have made history while maintaining their attractiveness. Let’s look at the Indian contestants who won Miss World and Miss Universe.

Reita Faria

Reita Faria, a stunning contestant, won India’s first major beauty pageant in 1966. After becoming Miss World in 1966, Reita had numerous modeling and acting offers, but she declined them in favor of pursuing her dream of becoming a doctor, getting her MBBS at King’s College, and being the first Miss World to do so.

Zeenat Aman

Zeenat Aman, an actress, became the first Indian to win Miss Asia Pacific in 1970. In the following years, she had appearances in movies including “Hare Rama Hare Krishna” (1971), “Satyam Shivam Sundaram” (1978), and “Insaf Ka Tarazu” (1980).

Sushmita Sen

In 1994, actress Sushmita Sen became Miss Universe for the first time. She had only turned 18 when she received the honor. Sushmita continued her work as an actor in movies like Main Hoon Na, Filhaal, and Sir Tum, as well as Biwi No 1.

Aishwarya Rai

Aishwarya Rai was crowned Miss World in 1994. She is a Mangalorean beauty queen. Following her success at the pageant, she pursued a career in Bollywood. Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam and Devdas are two movies that helped her gain stardom.

Lara Dutta

The title of Miss Universe 2000 went to Lara Dutta. Lara Dutta, who won the title in the pageant’s history, was the second Indian woman to do so after Sushmita Sen. With the release of Andaaz in 2003, Lara went on to make her Bollywood debut. Since then, she has emerged in a number of other Bollywood movies.

Priyanka Chopra

As the fifth Miss India to hold the title, Priyanka Chopra won the title of Miss World in 2000 when she was 18 years old. Priyanka was crowned Miss World Continental Queen of Beauty of Asia and Oceania the same year. Following her victory, she made her acting debut in the 2002 Tamil film Thamizhan before making her Bollywood debut in The Hero the following year with Preity Zinta and Sunny Deol.

Manushi Chhillar

For the first time in seventeen years, Manushi Chhillar of Haryana took home the Miss World crown in 2017 in Sanya City Arena. She returned the crown to India and became the sixth stunning Indian woman to win the title.