Aishwarya Rai, at 21 years of age vied for the crown of Miss World 1994 where she represented India. She took her first steps in pageantry with vying in Femina Miss India 1994 where she ended up as the first runner up and bagged the title of Miss India World 1994. Her victory allowed her to represent India in Miss World 1994. Surpassing 77 other equally talented candidates, the diva was crowned as Miss World 1994 alongside winning the subtitles Miss Photogenic and Miss World Continental Queen of Beauty – Asia and Oceania. Rai now is one of the most popular Indian actresses and works for a lot of humanitarian causes and is raising global awareness on protecting children from HIV and increasing access to antiretroviral treatment.