ABSTRACT
Once upon a time, a dusky beauty glided down the ramp of London's Albert Hall to be crowned Miss World. The year was 1966, the girl was Reita Faria, who reputedly had entered the contest for a lark with borrowed finery from friends and family - and won. Cut to 1999 and another nubile nymphet sashaying down an aisle in London's Olympia Theatre. But this was no gauche ingenue. Dressed in an ice blue evening gown studded with Swarovski crystals, smiling a pearly white smile, the lady was cool, sophisticated and articulate. Upon being crowned Miss World, the eyes misted over on cue behind the water proof mascara, and Yukta Mookhey became the fourth title holder for India since 1994 on the international beauty circuit (India Today 1999). As this book goes to press, the newly crowned Miss Universe 2000 is Lara Dutta, once again an Indian.
