She slays the ramp with her oomph and panache. Her smile leaves millions spellbound. Vivacious, confident and supremely talented, Lara Dutta has been conquering our hearts since the first time she sashayed on the ramp.
Crowned Miss Universe on the 12th of May 2000, Lara Dutta is that rare concoction of beauty and brawn that make her one hell of a woman and here are 6 reasons which make her beauty queen unlike any other.
1. Her Miss Universe score is highest in the history of the pageant
Lara Dutta was crowned Miss Universe in 2000, but not many know that she has been the only contestant to achieve a score of 9.99 which is the highest score in the history of the pageant. When asked in the final round of the contest to defend the Miss Universe pageant which were marred by protests, her answer blew the judges’ minds.
2 . She has been a United Nations Good Will Ambassador
The most beautiful woman in the universe, Lara Dutta reached dizzying heights, when in 2001, she was appointed as the Goodwill Ambassador to India for United Nations Population Fund. She traversed the country spreading awareness about safe sex practices. Truly, she is, a beauty with a purpose.
3. She is a Fitness Freak
An advent fan of yoga, she is quite popular for her videos on yoga. She has even launched a DVD series, H.E.A.L (Health, Exercise and Longevity). As a child, Lara loved to hike, bike and go river rafting.
4. She harbours the spirit of sportsmanship
During the Miss India contest, fellow contestant, teen Priyanka Chopra had no knowledge about makeup. Lara Dutta came to her rescue and helped PeeCee out. Lara also took under her wing, the girl with a sunshine smile, Dia Mirza and helped her out too. Hard to imagine beauty queens helping each other out.
5. She is multi-lingual
Born to an Anglo- Indian mother and a Punjabi father, Lara Dutta can fluently speak in Punjabi, Hindi, Kannada and English. Fun fact, she can mimic those accents pretty brilliantly too.
6. She is so much more than a pretty face
Besides being an actor, a full-time mother, Lara Dutta donned the hat of a producer and launched her own production company,’Bheegi Basanti’ in 2011. Her first film under the banner was ‘Chalo Dilli’.
7. She is a trained classical dancer
When she is not grooving to the Bollywood thumkas, Lara Dutta who is a trained classical dancer, loves to unwind seldom by practising them.
8. She has immense self-belief and conviction
Her defence background instilled in her the qualities of self-belief and discipline. At the age of 31, she decided to overcome her fear of swimming for a film role. And boy… aren’t we glad she did?
Lara Dutta, you are an ethereal beauty. <3