Aishwarya :The Global Brand of India

The world's most beautiful woman won the Miss World pageant in 1994.60 Minutes opines that "at least according to thousands of Web sites, Internet polls and even Julia Roberts", she was "The World's Most Beautiful Woman." Aishwarya has been the face of L'Oreal alongside names like Andie Macdowell, Eva Longoria and Penelope Cruz. A tulip in Netherland has been named after her as a tribute to her exquisite beauty.She happens to be the first Indian to figure in the Late Show with David Letterman. Aishwaryais also the first Indian film celebrity to appear in the Oprah Winfrey Chat Show. Harpers and Queen's ranked her number nine on their list of the world's 10 most beautiful women in the world. Time Magazine listed her for the second time in the list of the "100 Most Influential People in the World". She is married into the first film family of Bollywood -the Bachchan clan. She is the second actor ,only second to her father-in-law,Amitab Bachchan to make it to London's Madame Tussaud's, the other synonym for the Hall of fame.

Aishwarya was born on 1 November 1973 in Mangalore,Karnataka. The actress was exceptionally gifted also in academics securing 90% marks in HSC at Ruparel college in Mumbai. An aspiring architect , she later took up modeling assignments that paved the way for her becoming an actress.

She has starred in the English movies Bride & Prejudice, Mistress of Spices, Journey Across India, Provoked, The Last Legion and The Pink Panther 2.

Rai is an active participant for social causes and is the face of India's nationwide campaign to encourage eye donation, championed by The Eye Bank Association . Rai was honored with the Padma Shri, for her immense contribution to Indian cinema. In 2009, she made appearances on Martha Stewart's show Martha and The Tyra Banks Show . She also holds the distinction of being the first Indian actress to be on the jury of the Cannes International Film Festival. She features in the 2004 Guinness Book of World records. There are over 17,000 Web sites pertaining and dedicated to her. She was voted E's 7th sexiest celebrity in the world. Mattel had released Barbies after Aishwarya and her costumes in 2005;that are now deemed a limited edition. The People's magazine listed her among the 100 Most Beautiful People in the World. (May,8,2006)

Aishwarya Rai Bachchan lives up to her L'Oreal tagline: "Because, you're worth it!"