"Many producers wanted to sign me when I became Miss World. But the money was bad and the stories were lousy." Says Yukta Mookhey after winning the Miss world title in 1999. Yukta Mookhey wins the Miss World `99 crown and sets a record. Three Indian Miss World in the past one decade. Yukta firmly believes that it is not just beauty but intelligence that made her what she is today. Thus this straightforward, serene girl thinks inner beauty is what, that matters most.

Born in 7th October1979 to parents InderLal and Aruna, Yukta`s earlier education was in the Gulf because her father`s work took the family there. Her family is originally from north India. Later they settled in Mumbai. Yukta Mookhey`s mother Aruna runs a grooming workshop, Swiss Chalet, at Santa Cruz here while her father Inderlal is the managing director of Ragz Clothing Company. It was her mother who encouraged her to enter the Femina Miss India contest.

She graduated in Zoology from Kelkar College, Mumbai. Yukta won a number of essay and public speaking competitions and wanted to pursue a career in mass communications and computer graphics. She has worked in computer software programming.

Dark haired 20-year-old Yukta Mookhey from Mumbai was chosen Miss World 1999 over 93 other contestants. She wins $100,000 and a year of travel around the world. Now she acts in Hindi movies. The film `Pyaasa` with actor Aftab Shivdasani is her only release so far. It was a bad start indeed. The movie turned out to be a flop. She has also acted in the movie `Memsaheb` after that but it is not yet released.

This gracefully slender in Figure and tall lady also studied Hindustani classical music for three years. She adores Brad Pitt and admires Jane Austen. Yukta Mookhey`s favorite food is prawn in garlic sauce.