On This Day in 2000: Priyanka Chopra Won Miss World Title | Watch

23 years ago, on this day, global sensation Priyanka Chopra was crowned with one of the most prestigious beauty pageant titles. Priyanka became India’s fifth Miss World on November 30, 2000, at the age of 18. The actress is a global name now and has been making a mark in the entertainment industry. Priyanka competed against other stunning women in the Miss India pageant and finished in the top three to go to the world competition.

She competed against 95 other beauty queens in the Miss World 2000 competition, which was held in the Millennium Dome in London, United Kingdom. The actress was crowned Miss World, with Miss Italy and Miss Turkey finishing as runners-up.

On the crowning day, Priyanka Chopra wore a pink strapless gown with a plunging neckline and a sheer matching dupatta for her crowning moment. She accessorised with a crochet-printed choker necklace.

Here’s The Answer That Made Priyanka Chopra The Fifth Miss World:

Priyanka Chopra was asked, “Who do you think is the most successful woman living today, and why?” She answered, “There are a lot of people I admire, but one of the most admirable people is Mother Teresa, who has been so compassionate, considerate and kind.”

However, her answer was not really correct as Mother Teresa had passed away in 1997. But she seems to have impressed the judges, and she was crowned Miss World 2000.

She was presented the crown by Yukta Mookhey, who was the reigning Miss World.

Sharing about her time in the competition, Priyanka said on The Howard Stern Show earlier this year, “I was 18. Jerry Springer, RIP, was our host that year. It was in London, it was called the millennium year. So, I am the Millennium Miss World. I guess there is not going to be another one in our lifetimes… it (the Miss World pageant) was a matter of life and death for me. There was nothing else that mattered for me. I was like an athlete. I was like ‘Now that I am here, I can’t lose it. I am too near, too close. I didn’t aim for this, but now that I am here, I see the finish line’. It was just that I am competitive.”

Prior to Priyanka Chopra, the first Indian to win the crown was Reita Faria Powell in 1966. Then, in 1994, Aishwarya Rai won the honour, followed by Diana Hayden in 1997 and Yukta Mookhey in 1999. After Priyanka Chopra, Manushi Chillar was the next Indian to win the title in 2017.