‘I embrace each day as it comes’

‘My only advice to the aspiring beauty queens would be: Believe in yourself. Stay grounded. Trust your instincts and connect with people on a humane level.’

‘Life will test you, but if you have resilience and fortitude, the crown will be yours forever.’

“I wanted to win the Miss World crown for my grandmother,” says Yukta Mookhey; the decades have not dimmed her gentle smile.

When she won the crown in 1999 — after Reita Faria in 1966 , Aishwarya Rai in 1994 and Diana Hayden in 1997 — the 24 year old was a simple girl far removed from the shining world of glamour.

“My grandmother,” she says, “had migrated from Punjab in Pakistan during Partition, lived in refugee camps and worked very hard to bring up her family. I wanted the glory for her.

“She accompanied me to London despite the fact that acute arthritic pain made walking, let alone travelling, very difficult.

“I must be the only Miss World whose grandmother came on stage after I won and sat on the throne,” Yukta smiles at the memory.

Yukta was the fourth Indian to win the Miss World title.

Speaking exclusively to Rediff.com‘s Senior Contributor Roshmila Bhattacharya, almost a quarter of a century after that life-changing moment, the former beauty queen reveals that all 93 contestants are still in touch.

“We had a Facebook group earlier, now we have a WhatsApp group. We have become friends for life.”

“The Miss World contest did not define who we were, but it made us understand over time who we are.”

‘Miss Venezuela was whispering to me, “I want you to win!”‘

After Aishwarya Rai and Diana Hayden won the Miss World title, my conservative Punjabi family had a lot of expectations from me; they expected me to repeat the feat.

Of course, it was a culture shock for them to learn that I would have to walk out wearing a swimming costume, but I assured them that I would not do anything to compromise their dignity.

I wanted to win the crown for my grandmother.

She had migrated from Punjab in Pakistan during Partition, lived in refugee camps and worked very hard to bring up her family; I wanted the glory for her.

She accompanied me to London despite the fact that acute arthritic pain made travelling and even walking difficult.

I must be the only Miss World whose grandmother came on stage after I won and sat on the throne.

It was a glorious moment to see all 93 participants, who had insisted all along that Miss India deserved to win, cheering for us.

Just before they announced the winner, Miss Venezuela, Martina Thorogood, whispered, “I want you to win!”

I told her the same thing.

That we could say this to each other underlines the positivity that was there despite the competition.

‘I had to be trained to walk the ramp, to face the camera’

When I filled the form for the Miss India contest, I had no idea what it entailed. Despite living in Mumbai, I was far removed from the glamour profession.

Unlike some of the other contestants who were professional models, I had to be trained on how to walk the ramp and face the camera.

I remember Gayatri Joshi from the selection rounds, an extremely pretty, very successful model and a lovely person.

Lara Dutta also entered the contest in 1999 and was part of the Mumbai selections, but then dropped out for some reason.

I struck up a friendship with all the contestants and learnt from them.

I had the gift of height and the ability to connect with people.

And I had an inborn confidence which came not from arrogance, but from humility and the grace of my guru.

When I look back on my beauty pageant journey, I believe it was divinely guided.

I have been going to Gurumayi Chidvilasananada’s ashram, Gurudev Siddha Peeth in Ganeshpuri, since I was 13-14 years old and it was there that I imbibed certain values and virtues, a subtle energy that I always carry with me and which has got me plenty of appreciation.

‘There were many detractors who were very disparaging’

Once I was crowned Miss India, The Times of India Group put together a panel of experts to train me in physical fitness, skincare and grooming before I represented India on a global stage.

I give special credit to Hemant Trivedi, who had dressed Aishwarya and Diana too, and designed the beautiful sky-blue gown that I wore in the final round.

Hemant urged me to always be my natural self, pointing out that I was already a queen and so didn’t have to act like one.

He emphasised humility, told me to always acknowledge the doormen at the hotel and the chauffeurs driving us around.

“That’s how you can touch their hearts and embrace the world in a reflection of our Bharatiya culture,” he pointed.

The words still resonate.

Also, a special thanks to my gynaecologist uncle, (the late) Dr Rakesh Sinha, who holds two Guinness Book World Records for laparoscopic surgeries.

He was a life coach as well and mentored me personally for the Miss World contest.

While there were lots of people teaching me how to do my hair and make-up and how to choose the right outfit for an event, there were also many detractors who were very disparaging because I had no modelling experience like Aishwarya.

Their sarcastic jibes hurt, but I refused to stoop to their level.

I simply smiled back, telling myself that I would make them eat their words when I returned with the crown.

Over the years, I’ve realised that this is how the glamorous industry is.

My strong spiritual background has kept me grounded.

‘Maybe I was not cut out to be a star’

Life took a complete U-turn after I won the Miss World title.

Not only do people start treating you differently, you also have to play different roles.

I was the ambassador for different commercial brands and also a face for many NGOs.

I travelled to parts of India I would not have visited otherwise and that helped change my mindset.

So, for the first couple of years, I was a part of the glamour industry.

I became an actress, but my films didn’t run.

Maybe I was not cut out to be a star.

My training was in yoga and classical Indian vocals which I had learnt since I was a young girl.

Understandably, I was disappointed, but, in time, I began to focus on who I am.

I can never wear a mask and pretend to be the person I’m not. I realised showbiz was not the place for me. I moved out and moved on.

‘Today, I take pride in my identity of being just a mother’

I’ve been praised for my oratory skills since a young age.

People still remember how, at the Miss World pageant on December 4, 1999, in answer to a question of who I wanted to be, I picked Audrey Hepburn, for her inner beauty, compassion and her aura, the inner calm that she had inside her.

I was a young girl then, still growing up.

Today, my answer would be the warrior queens of India, from Jhansi ki rani Laxmibai to Ahilyabai Holkar and even Jijamata who raised Shivaji Maharaj and created swaraj.

Today, I take pride in my identity of being just a mother.

My son, Ahhrein, is 14 and I have been schooling him at home, teaching him our ancient Indian history, culture and Vedic maths.

We are raising the leaders of tomorrow and it takes a lot for a sapling to grow into a tree.

‘I don’t own anything that is branded; I don’t wear make-up’

I am currently fully engaged and committed to the path of sustainability.

I have chosen to boycott all that is not Bharatiya.

I don’t own anything that is branded. I don’t wear make-up. I don’t use any chemicals which are harmful to Mother Nature.We use only natural products and maintain a simple Ayurvedic lifestyle.

Given the rising consumerism and pollution, it’s important for us to understand what is happening with animals and nature, the plight of the planet and teach youngsters the importance of conservation and climate control.

We need to find solutions to the problems plaguing us from within ourselves.

That’s the legacy we need to leave for the next generation.

‘Believe in yourself’

In our journey through life, we all go through some really painful chapters. I did too and learnt to let go of my earlier perception of the world.

Today, I embrace each day as it comes. The attempt is to grow stronger from within.

I’m thrilled that the Miss World contest is taking place in India this year.

My only advice to aspiring beauty queens would be: Believe in yourself. Stay grounded. Trust your instincts and connect with people on a humane level.

People love putting us on a pedestal but living in a world of illusions can be disillusioning. So never compromise on your values or change yourself for anything or anyone.

Love yourself, respect yourself and accept who you are.

Victory comes in different garbs… Cloaked in experiences, it makes us resilient.

Life will test you but if you have resilience and fortitude, the crown will be yours forever.

‘Women are stronger when we are bonded in sisterhood’

It’s been almost 25 years since I was crowned Miss World and I’m still in touch with all the contestants.

We had a Facebook group earlier; now we have a WhatsApp group.

If anyone is ill, we are there holding their hand across the globe.

If anyone loses a loved one, we are just a call away.

We learn from each other and have become friends for life.

Women are stronger when we are bonded in sisterhood, not when we compete.

The Miss World contest did not define who we were, but it made us understand over time who we are.