MISS India Universe Ekta Chaudhury isn’t exactly the picture of traditional Indian beauty. Her hair is short and she has five tattoos. But the mega-watt smile, an hourglass figure (32-24-36) and a sharp mind combine to make her a worthy contestant in next month’s Miss Universe pageant.

Called a perfect combination of Indian beauty and international style by Indian fashion guru Ritu Kumar, she is hoping to inherit the crown from current Miss Universe Dayana Mendoza of Venezuela.

The month-long event in the Bahamas, with the finale scheduled for Aug 23, will see 75 contestants from different parts of the globe. It will be hosted by Billy Bush and Claudia Jordan.

Ekta, who is 5ft 9in tall and tips the scales at 55.5kg, proved her abilities at the Pantaloons Femina Miss India 2009 contest in April. The 22-year-old from Delhi walked the ramp with confidence and answered questions with ease.

When asked to name the one thing she would ask God if she met him, she said she would ask God why people, if they are all created equal, continue to fight in God’s name.

She has also started using her fame to do some good.
Supporting the Fight Against Cervical Cancer in India, she called for immediate action against the disease and urged women to undergo regular check-ups and Pap smears. After all, statistics show that cervical cancer kills eight women every waking hour in India.

Another factor which should work in Ekta’s favour is her long-standing desire to win this crown. Ever since she was seven – that’s when she watched Sushmita Sen win the Miss Universe crown in 1994 – she has been interested in modelling and pageants.

Now that she’s come so close to emulating Sushmita, she’s determined to give it her best shot.

Speaking about Ekta’s chances at the pageant, which India has not dominated since 2000 when Lara Dutta won the crown, Kumar told Indo-Asian News Service (IANS): “In Indian attire, she looks like a
royal princess of the Sixties. She has a perfect mix of Indian beauty and international style.”

To ensure that Ekta looks her best, her baggage will contain approximately 40 Kumar-designed outfits in a riot of colours... burgundy, bottle green and pastel shades. And she has been advised by Kumar to stick to a sari in rehearsals or whenever possible because it makes her stand out from the crowd.

Not that this tall, beautiful woman needs any help to stand out anyway.