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'Aishwarya Rai (born 1 November 1973), known as Aishwarya Rai Bachchan after her marriage
is an Indian actress and the winner of the Miss World pageant of 1994
Through her successful Bollywood career,
she has established herself as one the most popular and high-profile celebrities in India.
Rai has received several awards, including two Filmfare Awards from ten nominations.
She was awarded the Padma Shri by the Government of India in 2009
and the Ordre des Arts et des Lettres by the Government of France in 2012.
She is cited in the media as the "most beautiful woman in the world".
Her father, Krishnaraj, was a marine biologist, while her mother, Brinda, is a homemaker.
She has one elder brother, Aditya Rai, who is an engineer in the merchant navy
She trained in classical dance and music for five years during her teens.
Her favourite subject was zoology, so she initially considered a career in medicine.
Then with plans to become an architect, she enrolled at Raheja College of Arts,
but later gave up her education to pursue a career in modelling.
In 1991, Rai won a supermodel contest (organised by Ford)
and was eventually featured in the American edition of Vogue.
In 1993, Rai gained public recognition for her appearance in a Pepsi
commercial with actor Aamir Khan.
In the 1994 Miss India pageant, she won second place,
behind Sushmita Sen, and was crowned Miss India World.
With Sen representing India at the Miss Universe pageant,
Aishwarya's duties as the first runner-up included representing India
in the rival Miss World Pageant,
held that year in Sun City, South Africa.
She went on to win the crown where she also won the "Miss Photogenic" award
and Miss World Continental Queen of Beauty − Asia and Oceania.
After winning the pageant, Rai spoke of her dream for peace for this world,
and her desire to be an ambassador of peace during her one-year reign in London.
Rai continued to pursue a career as a model until she became an actress and Bollywood star.'
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aishwarya_Rai_Bachchan
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