Miss Universe



And although her tomboyish ways eventually landed her a short-lived stint with a full-fledged gang, Sushmita soon discovered that she had the potential to earn a living as a model. Her big break came in 1994 at the age of 18, when she decided to enter the Miss India pageant. Though she faced some stiff competition -- including future Bollywood Princess Aishwarya Rai -- Sushmita won over the judges with her poise and striking features, and walked away with the title of Miss India. Later that same year, Sushmita stunned the world when she won the Miss Universe pageant, becoming the first contestant from India to ever win the top prize.