celebrities: 2009

Tuesday, December 1, 2009

This year, it's Pooja Chopra's turn. Pooja will represent India at the Miss World 2009 contest being held in South Africa. In this picture, Pooja is seen posing for photographs during a photo call to promote the event in London.

In this picture, Miss India Priyanka Chopra, smiles as she sits with the Miss World crown after winning the title at London's Millennium Dome in 2000. Priyanka later entered Bollywood and became one of the top stars in the industry.

Yukta Mookhey, the tall leggy beauty was crowned the winner at the 49th Miss World pageant held in London. Though she tried her luck in movies, she never made it big like Aishwarya and Sushmita.

After Ash, it was Hyderabadi girl Diana Hayden. She was only 24 years when she became the third Indian woman to win the title in 1997. The picture shows an ecstatic Miss India, Diana Hayden rejoicing after being crowned Miss World 1997 in Seycheles.

Aishwarya Rai - the hazel-eyed beauty did India proud by clinching the beauty crown in 1994. The same year, Sushmita Sen was crowned Miss Universe. So it was a double delight for India then. In this picture, Miss India Aishwarya Rai, 21, sits on her throne shortly after being crowned at the Miss World pageant at Sun City.

India holds the highest number of Miss World winners along with Venezuela. Miss India Reita Faria was crowned Miss World 1966, becoming the first Miss World title holder from India. Decades later Aishwarya Rai went on to be crowned Miss World 1994. Her win was followed by others - Diana Hayden,Yukta Mookhey and Priyanka Chopra joined the elite list. As the world eagerly awaits this year's beauty queen, let's take a journey down memory lane...