Two Queens, One Legacy – 1994 was a historic year for India when Aishwarya Rai and Sushmita Sen won Miss World and Miss Universe crowns in the same year. Both the beauty queens became icons in their country who continued to inspire generations through their reigns.
Today, 30 years later, their reigns transcend beyond the crown as they have become a beacon of hope and change for millions of girls across the world who want to use a platform to bring a change in the world. Aishwarya and Sushmita, along with being strong advocators of social change, have had successful careers as actors in India.
Miss Universe and Miss World dual win in 1994
In 1994, Sushmita and Aishwarya shared the stage at Miss India 1994 where Aishwarya was a strong competitor for many girls who actually withdrew their name from the pageant because nobody wanted to compete with the most beautiful woman! However, Sushmita did not back down as she said even back then, “My mother said ok fine let her win. If you think that she's the world's most beautiful then loose from her. What's the point of losing from someone else? Go give it your best shot." In the end, Sushmita won the Miss India crown and Aishwarya placed as the runner-up.
Crowning Moment of Sushmita Sen Miss Universe 1994
Both, Sushmita and Aishwarya proved that beauty queens aren’t just beautiful but women of substance. Today, Sushmita Sen has returned to the screen with digital debuts at OTT platform and getting back to work after taking a long break to focus on her family while Aishwarya still remains a global ambassador for international brands while managing mommy duties for her beautiful daughter.
1994 will forever be a momentous feat for India with these two extraordinary women etching their names forever in history. Their win will be celebrated as a testament to the unparalleled grace, intelligence, and charm that these two iconic women brought to the global stage.