Photographs: Darren Decker/Miss Universe LP, LLLP
We bring you the Miss India winners from over the last ten years -- tell us who you think had the best potential!
After Lara Dutta won the Miss Universe pageant back in the year 2000, a decade of disappointment has followed -- no contestant since has managed to make it further than fourth runner-up.
The '90s legacy of Indian beauty queens like Sushmita Sen and Aishwarya Rai is fast disappearing, it seems. And yet, ironically enough, it was Sushmita who chose the lastest Miss India contestant for this year's Miss Universe competition.
Yesterday, we asked you to vote for the hottest Miss Universe title-holder of the past decade. Today, we ask you to vote for your favourite Miss India from over the past ten years.
2010: Ushoshi Sengupta
The 23-year-old Kolkata model was crowned the 'I Am She' Miss India Universe 2010 by Sushmita Sen, but could not match up to her mentor on the international platform -- Ushoshi didn't even make it to the top 15.
Move on to the next slide and register your votes on the last page of the slideshow.
2009: Ekta Chowdhry
Image: Ekta ChowdhryPhotographs: Ho New/Reuters
Ekta won the Pantaloons Femina Miss India Universe 2009 title, but like Ushoshi, the 5'10" Delhi model, then 23, failed to make it to the semi-finals.
Move on to the next slide and register your votes on the last page of the slideshow.
2008: Simran Kaur Mundi
Image: Simran Kaur MundiPhotographs: Ho New/Reuters
Mumbai babe Simran was first runner-up in the swimsuit competition, second runner-up in the evening gown contest and placed fourth in the national costumes round at Miss Universe 2008. Unfortunately, she didn't make it any further than these special award categories.
Move on to the next slide and register your votes on the last page of the slideshow.
2007: Puja Gupta
Image: Puja GuptaPhotographs: Daniel Aguilar/Reuters
Puja, also from Delhi, managed to make it to the top 10 at the 2007 pageant at the age of 22, finishing off in ninth place. With her stunning features and fantastic national costume, we were hoping that she'd go much further.
Move on to the next slide and register your votes on the last page of the slideshow.
2006: Neha Kapur
Image: Neha KapurPhotographs: Ho New/Reuters
Neha, a classically trained dancer and ramp model, was a top 20 semi-finalist at Miss Universe 2006 and competed in the swimsuit segment too.
Move on to the next slide and register your votes on the last page of the slideshow.
2005: Amrita Thapar
Image: Amrita ThaparPhotographs: Adrees Latif/Reuters
Pretty Pune girl Amrita, with her green eyes and brown hair, competed for the crown in the year 2005. Despite failing to make the cut, she has pursued a career in fashion and art and is also an active founding member of the forthcoming Commonwealth games.
Move on to the next slide and register your votes on the last page of the slideshow.
2004: Tanushree Dutta
Image: Tanushree DuttaPhotographs: Ho New/Reuters
Not many remember that actress Tanushree was a smalltown girl from Jamshedpur before her first big break -- winning the Femina Miss India 2004 title and competing in the international pageant, where she got as far as the top 10.
Move on to the next slide and register your votes on the last page of the slideshow.
2003: Nikita Anand
Image: Nikita AnandPhotographs: Alberto Lowe/Reuters
Nikita competed in 2003, but didn't get very far at all -- the 5'8" Delhi looker has, however, forged a career for herself in TV and entertainment as a result of her former beauty queen status.
Move on to the next slide and register your votes on the last page of the slideshow.
2002: Neha Dhupia
Image: Neha DhupiaPhotographs: Manav Manglani /Stringer India/Reuters
Gorgeous B-Town babe Neha did manage to crack the Miss Universe semi-finals in 2002, at the age of 21. But even with her sizzling looks, the final five was out of reach.
Move on to the next slide and register your votes on the last page of the slideshow.
2001: Celina Jaitley
Image: Celina JaitleyPhotographs: Reuters
And finally we have Celina, who is the only Miss India of the last ten years to make it to the final round of the contest, finishing as high as fifth place. She was only 19 at the time.
Move on to the next slide and register your votes.
Cast your vote!
So who do you think was the best Miss India of the decade? Take the poll below and tell us!
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