"I`m 30, and enjoying every bit of it. I haven`t changed a thing that I don`t like wearing and the only reason I don`t wear it is `coz I don`t like it on myself. I reveal when I feel like it. Today I do, tomorrow, I might not. It`s about freedom of choice, not age. All power to people who understand that ultimately, clothes are going on your body. If you are comfortable with it, wear it. I`m not judgmental about the way people dress. What disturbs me however is if after you`ve worn it, you`re constantly talking, pulling, figuring yourself out. That`s disturbing." --- Sushmita Sen interviewed at Stardust magazine, September 2006. A Bengali reared beauty in a middle-class Sushmita Sen came into limelight when she was crowned the Miss Universe tiara in 1994. Sushmita is intelligent, but it`s an intelligence as yet untainted by realism. Creative rather than literal, poetic rather than pedantic, it is these very qualities that endeared her to the viewers and judges of the Miss Universe contest in 1994.

Sushmita Sen was born in Hyderabad on 19th November 1975. She was born to father a retired Indian Air force officer and fashion artist, jewelery designer mother Subhra Sen. She has one brother, Rajeev Sen, and a sister, Neelam Sen. Sushmita`s defense background ensured that she led a nomadic life. Her mother`s decision to shift base to Delhi, was to give some permanency in her children`s lives, as also to enable her children have proper education. Sushmita`s mother tongue is Bengali. In 2000, she adopted a girl child Renee as a single mother.

With an advantageous height, she made her entry into the world of fashion. She did a few fashion shows before she went in for the Femina Miss India pageant. When Sushmita was applying for the Miss India Competition, found Aishwariya Rai was entering. As Ashwariya was certain to win, Sushmita took back her form. But her mother gave her the courage to face the challenge. She told Sushmita that she was "disappointed and that if you come back to me saying you lost to the woman you think who is beautiful then I`ll be proud."

Ironically She won with a tie-breaking question. From there she went off to Philippines to represent India at the Miss Universe Pageant. There she floored the judges with her remark about the `essence of a woman`. The judges placed their votes on Sushmita In the end, and making her the first woman from India to become Miss Universe. She was then only eighteen years old.

After which she entered the Indian film industry as the tradition of all beauty queens. Sushmita made her debut in "Dastak" in the role of a vulnerable girl being stalked by a psycho. But it did not do well at the box office. Her next movie `Ratchagan` in Tamil was a huge hit. Two years later her appearance in a comic role in David Dhawan`s `Biwi No.1` won her the Filmfare Best Supporting Actress Award in 1999. She was seen in a very realistic role in Meghna Gulzar`s directorial debut film `Filhaal` and has got very rant reviews for her convincing portrayal of the character in the film. She won the Zee Cine Best Supporting Actress award for her performance.

The movie `Main Hoon Na` has been Sushmita`s biggest hit in the year 2004, in which she starred as Shah Rukh Khan`s love interest. Later on, she played a lawyer in `Main Aisa Hi Hoon` opposite Ajay Devgan. In 2005, she also starred in a remake of Cactus Flower, called `Maine Pyaar Kyun Kiya`: Sen played the lead opposite Salman Khan and Katrina Kaif and essayed the role of Ingrid Bergman. Her most recent movies include `Karma`, `Confessions and Holi` (2006) opposite Naomi Campbell, `Ram Gopal Varma Ke Sholay` (2006) and the recently announced `Dulha Mil Gaya` (2006) opposite Shahrukh Khan.

"Sushmita is a fantastic model. Among the very best she`s very aware of herself and is fashion conscious. She is one of the few Indian models who can carry off couture even without a stylist. She`s been one my closest pals from the industry." --- remarked on Sushmita Sen by a celebrated photographer in India Subi Samuel. Having emerged from childhood with absolutely no thoughts of pursuing a career as an actress, Sushmita Sen has certainly managed to build quite an empire for herself over the years.