Lara Dutta Says Miss Universe Was Never About Perfect Looking Woman, Lauds Pageant For Including Mothers, Married Women
I remember watching beauty pageants from a very young age and I also wanted to see myself getting crowned more times than once! Don’t judge me, I was a teenager, okay? But as I grew up, I began to realise that participating in beauty pageants is no cakewalk and winning the contest is not just limited to that! I also came to learn the pageant opens door to many opportunities for those who enter it. So, recently, when it was announced that the Miss Universe pageant will allow married women and young mothers to compete for the crown, it was a decision welcomed with open arms by many. Former Miss Universe, Lara Dutta, has shared her thoughts on this big step taken by the organisers.
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In an interview with ETimes, Lara Dutta said that it was an ‘incredible decision’ to allow mothers and married women to participate in the pageant. She also said that now we are talking about inclusion while the conversation to make that happen has been going around for a couple of years now. Lara also went on to say that the concept of a beauty pageant has evolved over the years.
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Also read: ‘Kaun Banegi Shikharwati’ Review: Naseeruddin Shah, Lara Dutta And Supporting Cast Stole The Show
The Bell Bottom actress also shed light on how the Miss Universe has never been a perfect-looking woman rather she is an advocate for many statements that need to be made over the years. Lara Dutta also shared her experience of being the UN Goodwill Ambassador for 14 years and how it made her realise that contests like these are empowering.
Until this decision was made, there was a rule that the contestants participating in the Miss Universe should be single and must be single throughout their tenure post winning the crown as well. Lara Dutta was crowned Miss Universe in the year 2000, becoming the second Indian woman, then to have won the pageant. The first one was Sushmita Sen who won the title in 1994.
Also read: Lara Dutta Gets Candid About Ageism And Crude Comments Against Credible Actors Like Her, Kajol, Rani Mukherjee
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Lara Dutta Makes A Case For Maintaining Work Life Balance Over Trying Too Hard To Be Seen On Screen
