Winners through the years

The damsels who dazzled us with their beauty transcending paradise. Here's taking a look at the winners of Miss India over the past 50 years: Miss India World 2012: Beauty from Chandigarh, Vanya Mishra won the prestigious Miss India title in 2012. She is currently doing her undergraduate programme in Electrical Engineering.

Miss World 2000,
Miss India World 2000:
Bareilly girl Priyanka Chopra beat other 94 lovely ladies to claim the Miss World 2000 title. She is one of the top league actresses in Bollywood with hits like Don, Fashion, Dostana and Kaminey. She won her first National Award for her performance in movie 'Fashion'.

Miss India World 2001:
Sara Corner participated in Femina Miss India World in 2001.She has also done a course in Travel and Tourism.Sara is now married and settled abroad.

Miss India World 2002: Shruti Sharma tried for the contest in 1999 too. "My determination brought me back... fortunately, I succeeded,'' Shruti Sharma said. She was a semi-finalist in the Miss World contest, which was decided by the audience by text messaging. Currently, Shruti is an actress in Bollywood.

Miss India World 2003: Ami Vashi won the prestigious Femina Miss India World 2003 and represented India in the Miss World competition in 2003 as she made it to the top 5 finalist. She is a graduate from the University of Southern California.

Miss India World 2004: Doe-eyed Sayali won the Femina Miss India World and represented India at the contest.She is one of the well-known actors in Bollywood.

Miss India World 1997: Little princess from Hyderabad crowned the world's most beautiful woman, at the Miss World pageant. After winning the crown, Diana did some movies and television shows.

Miss India World 2005: Legy lass Sindhura Gadde won the Miss India 2005 and was in the Top 10 contenders during the Miss World 2005 pageant. She has starred in few regional and bollywood films too.

Miss India World 1960 : Iona Pinto won the Femina Miss India pageant in 1960. She was the first Indian to represent India at Miss International.

Miss India 1978: Kalpana Iyer was a semifinalist in the Miss World in 1976 pageant. She is one of the well-known name in film fraternity.

Miss India World 2006: Natasha Suri has won eight beauty pageants, before participating in the Miss India pageant. She represented India in Miss World and was in the top 10. She is now a well-known model and was awarded the "Pillar of Hindustani Society" award in 2008 for her achievements in the fashion industry.

Miss India World 2007: Sarah Jane Dias was a famous VJ before she won Femina Miss India and was in the top 20 in the Miss World 2007. The beauty now aspires for a career in B-town.

Miss World 2008, Ist runner up:
Miss India World 2008:
Parvathy Omanakuttan Nair from god's own country, Kerala, became the first runner-up in the Miss World 2008 pageant. Parvathy aspires to be an actress.

Miss India World 1992: Bikini clad Shyla Lopez represented our country in 1992. She still is the eternal ramp favourite.

Miss India 1983: Sweety Grewal participated in the prestigious Femina Miss India World in 1983.She achieved great heights in Entertainment industry.

Miss India World 1996: As the Miss World contest was held for the first time on home ground, all expectations were on Rani Jeyraj of Karnataka. She is a reputed ramp model and a television actress. She did her higher studies from London International Film School.

Beauty With A Purpose (Miss World title 2009),
Miss India World 2009:
Pooja Chopra also won Miss Beautiful Smile and Miss Beautiful Body title at the Miss India 2009 pageant. She represented India at the Miss World 2009 pageant and won the Beauty with a cause title. Pooja did a cameo in Madhur Bhandarkar's film 'Fashion'.(Getty Images)

Miss India World 2010 : Delhiite Manasvi Mamgai is a reputed name in the fashion industry today. She has showcased almost all the topnotch designers' creations in the country. Manasvi represented India at the Miss World 2010 pageant held in Sanya, China.

Miss India World 1992: Ritu Singh bagged the second runner-up title at the Miss Asia World pageant in 1992. She took up modelling and anchoring.Today, she lives in Nepal and pursues her passion for music.

Miss India 1972: Malathi Bassappa (2L) represented the country in the Miss World pageant in 1972.She was 4th runner up at the pageant.

Miss India World 1999: This 5'11'' tall brunette took London's Olympia theatre by storm and was crowned Miss World in 1999. Yukta Mookhey did a few films before settling down with Prince Tuli.

Miss India World 1995: Preeti Mankotia won the Femina Miss India pageant in 1995. She graced many fashion events and walked the ramp for reputed designers.

Miss India 1983: Deepti Diwakar represented the country in the Miss World pageant at Miami.

Miss India 1987: Manisha Kohli is from Maharashtra. She represented India in Femina Miss India pageant in 1987.

Miss India 1980: Elizabeth Anita Reddi is India's first Miss Intercontinental 1978 winner, she later participated in Miss India world 1980.

Miss World 1966:
Miss India World 1966 : Reita Faria, a young medical student from Mumbai created history in 1966 by becoming the first Indian to be crowned Miss World. After enjoying a year of fame, she quit modeling and decided to concentrate more on her medical studies and eventually became a doctor. Reita was invited to participate in the 25th and 50th anniversary of the Miss World contest.

Miss India 1976:
Naina Balsaver, the only Miss India who withdrew from the Miss World pageant due to India's protest against apartheid. Naina has been devoting her energies towards jewelry designing.

Miss India 1986: Our Miss India 1986, Maureen Mary Lestourgeon(R) won second runner up title in Miss Asia Pacific.

Miss India World 1998: Annie Thomas had participated in 1996 too, but did not make it to the finals.She became a successful TV star after the pageants.

Miss India World 2011:
Mumbai based model Kanistha Dhankar bagged multiple titles during the pageant. She represented India at the Miss World 2011 pageant where she was placed in top 30. She took the international leap by walking at the New York Fashion Week recently.

Miss World 1994,
Miss India World 1994: Light-eyed beauty Aishwarya Rai made the country proud by winning the Miss World title and became the second Indian to be crowned Miss World in 28 years. Aishwarya entered films and stormed the silver screen. Fondly called Ash in the film circuit, she is married to actor Abhishek Bachchan.(Getty Images)