Thats Our Girl
Part 2



The doctrine of-discipline, Sen learnt to respect from her father. A man who, today, is fending for space between the 40 to 50 presswallahs after him because he fathered this year's Miss Universe! Anyway, what better time to reflect on this wondergirl? "I recall a time when Sushmita was just seven. She had slipped from a slide and cut her head, The gash was deep, we rushed to the hospitaL There, the doctor asked her to choose whether she wanted to be stitched up while conscious, or unconscious, with anaesthesia. What is anaesthesia' she asked tbe doctor. He asked her if she could bear the pain of being stitched without it... 'Do you think I can?' she counter-questioned the doctor. He told her if she was brave, she could. And she made her decision. No anesthesia. The girl was silent through out the procedure. It was only when she bid the doctor goodbye, and leaned against me in the car, that she admitted to the pain.

"You know, as a kid, she'd never really study hard, but listen to her mother or me read out her lessons. Then, she'd repeat the whole lesson verbatim. If I questioned her, about whether she had understood what she said, she'd say I'll just show you,' and go to her room. There, she'd write the gist of it in the form of a poem. She was always doing that.

"I remember, once we were all watching a Miss Universe contest, when she was 15. Her comment was, 'You know papa, I don't think many of these girls come across as really beautiful, except maybe one or two.' I remember teasing her that if she was interested in beauty contests, she should participate in the Air Force Club Contest, and she turned around and told me, I'll aim right for the ultimate!'"

But even ex-Wing Commander, daddy Sen, couldn't believe just how much potential this little girl had. "It hasn't sunk in yet," he repeats, hours after the mega event. "I'm still trying to grapple with the reality. I've been getting so many phone calls from people whom I don't even know. In fact, I didn't see the contest live. When I got a call from my brother in L.A. that Sushmita had won the Miss Universe crown, I couldn't quite believe it. The implications have still not sunk in, I can only say that she has done me proud"

If her father feels fulfilled, her grandpa must be credited with almost prophesying what lay ahead. Soon after her Miss India triumph, he wrote her a note straight from the heart: My dear Titu Sona, one crowded hour of glorious life is worth an age without a name, You've become a national celebrity overnight as the most beautiful girl in the country. The glory you have attained as Miss India has taken us all your parents, and all dear and near ones, by storm. We are still feeling submerged in a floodside of ecstasy and excitement. You have justifiably deserved God's Grace in this unique endeavour and achievement. Your title Miss India 1994 will be a golden passport for universal applause, admiration and recognition." That last bit challenged the dim line that separated Sen's present from her future. Within the space of five months (between the two contests), Sen's life was completely overhauled!

Sushmita Sen declared on Surabhi that beauty contests are actually personality contests. All her well-wishers reminded her that her personality was her USP. The microphone was as crucial a tool of communication, as her appearance on the camera. Just as Sen understood that a model communicates largely with the eyes, without speech, she realised what kind of impact she would have to create as candidate for a world ambassador.

She was aware of her lack of conventional beauty. She once said, in an interview, "I know I am not beautiful. To me, Madhuri Dixit is beautiful. I am nothing." One newspaper described her as having "eyebrows upon which you could rewrite the first chapter of Pride and Prejudice." Before leaving, she confessed to counting on more than just the exteriors. "Intelligence, poise, wit, all of these count a lot in international contests."

Exactly the qualities Rajat Tara, Sen's boyfriend, assured her made her special. He was a pillar, of emotional support, throughout ' her climb, and is now, too. "To be very honest; I always thought Sush had potential. She always had ample confidence and a wonderful way of putting forward her thoughts. When she was in Manila, I used to speak to her almost every day,. telling her 'You're going to crack it.' She is a very sensitive, loving, emotional, fun,.down-to-earth kind of person. She knows where she's going.

"She called me up the day she won, and her feelings were exactly what came through in her pictures, splashed in the newspapers. She was numb, blank, and extremely thrilled. She could hardly speak because of a bad throat; due to making so many speeches!."

He feels no pangs of insecurity, now that his girlfriend has became a superstar, "When she became Miss India, I was told by my friends that it would be tough on me. But nothing changed. Sushmita had no airs, and was still very caring." He points out that she loves children, and often stopped on the road to talk to a little boy or girl. Marriage is definitely on the cards, but it can wait: According to Menon, Sen said marriage was a good eight to ten years away. And everybody understands.

"She's got a little of everything," analyses Sathya Saran. "She's got the height. She's got the spirit that lights her up; which compensates for her lack of classical beauty." Fashion choreographer, Lubna Adams, points out that her poise and grace seem effortlessly consistent. "On stage, she is very aware of her audience's moods: She has incredible presence of mind."

The consistent confidence intrigues almost everyone, considering that circumstances during both the contests hardly fed it. In the Miss India contest, the exotic, light-eyed Aishwarya Rai had the support of millions of TV viewers, who had a powerful glimpse of her "Hi, I am Sanjana" role in the Pepsi campaign. Then again, at the Miss Universe contest, anchorpersons Arthel Neville and Angela Visser, gushed over the Miss Belgiums, the Miss Venezuelas, and Miss Colombias. Neither the Indian press, nor the Phillipino press, made much of a fuss about Sen, prior to her victories.

In fact, there are still debates on whether Aishwarya Rai would also have taken the crown, had she been sent for the Miss Universe pageant. Sharbari Dhole maintains that when Sushmita started doing photo-sessions with blue contact lenses, it was a desperate bid to borrow Aishwarya's charm. Dhole also scoffs at Sen's body: "Do you call that a figure?" But supporters of Sen are quick to refute the charges. Says Rasna Behl, fashion show producer, "Contact lenses are a trend across the board. All the actresses are wearing them. Now, even male models and actors use them!" As for Sen's scrawny build, Sangeeta Chopra has only nice things to say. "She has no flaws that need hiding. No fat thighs, or hips, or hunch. All she needed was to work on her biceps, triceps, and pectorals, and gain a kilo, which she did before she left!"

Says Prabhuddha Dgsgupta, acdaimed photographer, who was on the panel of judges for the Miss India contest: "What appeals is her poise and honesty, which came through even in the Miss India contest, while other contestants like Aishwarya came across as too smart and too prepared to win. Sushmita came across as herself, and said what she felt. In fact; I feel she has a very well-rounded personality for her age."

Harbans Mody, who shot her for her first portfolio, and then again after she became Miss India, testifies to her character: "There was no change in her at all. No airs, nothing. She had her head firmly on her shoulders. And she didn't charge a paisa. That's the real Sushmita."

At the press conference held subsequent to the Miss India contest, it was easy to see that of the two, Sen was far more at ease with herself. Rai arrived half an hour late, in a tight black stocking dress, more suited to a night event, with a full regalia of make-up on. Sen was on time, wore a modest suit-dress, had hardly any make-up on, and plonked herself comfortably next to the journos.

"Aishwarya is definitely prettier," says Sen's acquaintance, and designer, Ashley Rebello. "But at some point, she got over confident," he condudes, somewhat finally. With all due credit to Ms. Sushmita Sen's oratorial talents and natural poise, one can't help pulling back from the nitty-gritties to take a wide-angled look at the current dynamics behind beauty contests. Is there a pattern of political correctness in the decision of who makes it to the finalists, from a group of 77 contenders? Are stereotypes of international beauty dominated by the Anglo Saxon, Caucasian blonde hair and blue eyes, being challenged?

In the summer of '88, the Miss Universe pageant was held in Taiwan, a newly recognised power-economy. All the three winners that year were from the Far East. Miss Universe was Miss Nakhirunkanok (Miss Thailand), and the runners-up were from Japan and Korea. It was not difficult to relate this to the fact that Taiwan, Hong Kong, Singapore, Korea, and Thailand were emerging as strong economies.

So also, India has suddenly dawned on the powers-that-be; as the 'Waking Elephant', the largest democracy, the largest free market economy. The Miss Indias over the last four years have been placing in the final ten, and many opine that it was just a matter of time before one took the crown.

Recalls Namrata Shirodkar, who ranked fourth runner-up last year: "Four US judges told me they had done their best to help me win. They were very sorry that I didn't." So also, she points out, the venue of the contest makes a difference. When she went to the Phillipines, for the Miss Asia-Pacific, contest, she felt a lot of support from the Phillipinos in the audience. "Of course the pageant is politically correct," laughs Ashley Rebello. "I won't be surprised if the next Miss Universe is from Bosnia!"

But optimism reigns. Rasna Behl maintains that there is a general upsurge of interest in Indian girls, in the world of international fashion. "Indian looks are very versatile. An Indian model can wear an ethnic ensemble just as naturally as a western creation, There is a tremendous demand for Indian models in the Gulf; they find their dark hair, dark eyes, very exotic: In London, there are agencies that deal only with Asian models." Sathya Saran believes that any Miss Universe candidate from a Third World country is more informed, than a First World candidate. "This is because the former are upwardly mobile, they educate themselves about their own country and the dominant cultures, making them better cultural ambassadors."

Sen's designer, Sangeeta Chopra, was careful to pack her an integral wardrobe, the, 25-odd outfits containing traces of both ethnic wear, and western wear "Sushmita was wrongly advised to 'carry all traditional clothes, or to carry ultra-mod, glamorous clothes. Neither one accurately represents today's Indian woman."

Sure, the images of Sen in her angavastram, resplendent in gold and copper, or her black and white pinafore cocktail dress, or the glittering silver white evening gown (the most lingering, for obvious reasons), have etched themselves in the memories of millions of young Indian women, who can now dare to dream of an international title.

Sushmita Sen is living history, as the first Indian Miss Universe in the 43-odd years of the pageant's existence, The first Indian to'"be assured of millions of dollars in her vanity bag, super-prestigious promotional contracts, a total of $250,000 worth of.cash, gifts and prizes. (Which includes a dazzling diamond brooch studded with one hundred diamonds on 18 kt gold and platinum, a Hammerman original, valued at US $20,000. A luxury apartment in Los Angeles, Califomia, USA. A swanky sportscar of the latest international model. A 32-carat diamond jewellery collection consisting of matching earrings, bracelet, and ring made especially for Miss Universe!) Sen is also the first Indian to "give up the reality of being an Indian for the next one year, to become a citizen of the world." Probably one of the first Indian teenagers ever known to be in a position to work on issues like needy children, poverty, politics and feminism.

It will be hard work. Constant chaperoning to banquets, dinners, fund-raisers, and diplomatic dos. No proximity to friends, boyfriend, family. Will the trimmings of glory intoxicate the 18-year-old idealist? One who was content to sit with quill and paper, jotting whimsical denotations of casual inspiration? Will she, like Reita Faria, Miss World in '66, settle overseas forever and abandon the country for glamrous opportunity? Probably not. The ardent support she showed for Gandhi, her nationalistic responses to congratulations, and her closeness to her family, all veto these possibilities. The girl seems to have brought national glory with her very birthday, which coincides with Indira Gandhi's. She was crowned on the death anniversary of Rajiv Gandhi, a man whose prime vision was seeing the youth consolidate a ever! new India. And if she but looks around her, she will notice that India is acquiring a new status. The prime minister's reception in the joint house of Parliament, in Washington, led to unprecedented coverage in the western media. The London Times called India a "proud but thin-skinned nation." The US Forbes magazine (May '94) declared India "the biggest emerging market of all." The New York Titnes, The Washington Times, and The Los Angeles Times also featured lengthy analyses of India's economic reforms. Zoom in to the Cannes Film Festival, and one sees a similar sensitivity tolndia. Three films from the subcontinent have been featured in the main sections, for the first time in a decade!



Yes, Sushmita Sen, you've done it. Same say you'll join a top American university, mould your remarkable mental resources, and join the. U.N. Others say you'll gravitate to Hollywood, or haute pastures. Whatever it is you do, please remain Indian. As proud and thin-skinned as they come!

With inputs from Meenu (Delhi)

This whole extract has been taken from the Society Magazine, June 1994.



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