Bollywood actress and Miss India 1994 stunned the nation when she defeated Aishwarya Rai for the coveted Miss India 1994 title and later created history by becoming the first Miss India to win the prestigious Miss Universe crown in 1994. She won the title when the pageant was held in Manila.
After 1994, the pageant returned to Manila once again and is scheduled to take place in the Mall of Asia Arena, Pasay, Metro Manila, Philippines. Sushmita Sen left for Manila to attend the Miss Universe pageant. She posted on Instagram:
"sushmitasen47Getting ready with a dancing heart!!!!! 💃ðŸ»ðŸ˜ðŸ‘â¤ï¸ðŸ˜€I am soooooooo excited, emotional and looking forward to returning home to the #Philippines after #23years 😇💃ðŸ»âœˆï¸â¤ it's where it all began #manila1994 #missuniverse1994 ðŸ˜ðŸ‘💃ðŸ»life comes a full circle, from winning Miss Universe, to having owned its Indian Franchise to now...returning back to #Manila this time as a #judge at the 65th Miss Universe pageant!!!😊â¤ðŸ˜‡ðŸ’ƒðŸ»ðŸ’ƒðŸ»ðŸ’ƒðŸ»to all my #filipino friends who have been graciously asking...I can now confirm...yesssssss!!!! I am coming!!!😄â¤ï¸ðŸ’ƒðŸ»ðŸ˜âœˆï¸ðŸŽµ Mahal Kita Philippines ðŸ‘ðŸ‘ðŸ‘â¤ï¸ðŸ’ƒðŸ»see u sooooooon!!!!!🌹â¤ï¸ðŸ˜"
Sushmita did own the Miss Universe franchise for a few years but the winners she chose did not meet the Miss Universe standards and failed to make it big at the pageant. The franchise went back to Femina and later Femina gave up the franchise because of India's poor placement. India sent stunning Urvashi Rautela but Miss Universe didn't even place her in the Top 10, let alone winning the crown. Most Indians found Urvashi's non placement absolutely bias. Miss Universe doesn't have a TV audience it desires. Americans have lost interest in Beauty Pageants, India seems more interested in Bollywood. Only one country exists in the world where common public is crazy about pageants, the Philippines. Philippines is one of the developing countries in Asia. Since the country is not well known in the world, Filipinos think that their placement in Miss Universe makes the world take notice of the country. Miss Universe knows it very well that to sustain the interest of Filipinos and keep their TV audience base, it is important to place Miss Philippines in the finals and therefore we have been seeing the inclusion of Miss Philippines in the Top 5. Miss Philippines is the current crown holder and even hosting the pageant.
Roshmitha Harimurthy from Bangalore is representing India this time but she is nowhere in the favorites and seems lost in the sea of beauties from across the world. Let us hope that she at least places in the Top 5 of the Miss Universe 2016 pageant to be held on Jan 30, 2017. We would love to have the crown back but chances are slim.