The Answer That Secured Birthday Girl Aishwarya Rai ‘Miss World’ Crown in 1994

Aishwarya Rai celebrates her 51st birthday on November 1. Even after two decades of being crowned Miss World, she continues to shine—whether on the red carpet or at award shows and other events. At just 21 years old, Aishwarya clinched the Miss World 1994 title, surpassing 86 contestants from around the globe. Do you remember the answer that helped her secure the title at the prestigious beauty pageant?

Her final answer earned her the title that year. When the judges asked, “What are the qualities Miss World should embody?” Aishwarya replied, “The Miss Worlds that we have had up to date, have been proof enough that they have had compassion. Compassion for the underprivileged and not only for the people who have status and stature. We have had people, who can look beyond the barriers that man has set up – of nationalities and colour. We have to look beyond those and that would make a true Miss World. A true person, a real person.”

Watch Aishwarya’s winning answer:

Take a look at Aishwarya’s crowning moment:

Cultural Pride

During the 1994 competition, Aishwarya Rai also spoke about her Indian heritage in the introduction video, emphasizing the diversity of cultures and races coexisting in the country. She remarked, “We’ve got the world in India. It’s more cosmopolitan because [there are] so many religions in India, so many races. It is an amalgamation of so many cultures and people have learnt to live together in that.”

Reflecting on her experience, she said, “This experience (Miss World 1994) has been incredible. I know that I am going to look back and think that it is so strange that so many of us are from different countries, we have never met each other, and we are here and we have spent a month together. We have really made such good friends. But then again, I don’t know when we are going to meet each other in life again.”