Summary
Quite evidently, there is some tenuous link between beauty queens and charity.
During our recent edition of The Big Picture in Mumbai last week, we had a surprise visitor — former Miss India Universe Celina Jaitley, who joined us for a quick discussion on “Bollywood as the biggest fashion influence in India”. But first, a little about the reason for Celina’s visit to India — she has, since her marriage to hotelier Peter Haag, relocated to Singapore. In addition to being a hands-on mother with two kids, she is also a UN goodwill ambassador for Human Rights and Free and Equal campaign for members of LGBT (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender) community.
Quite evidently, there is some tenuous link between beauty queens and charity. It’s the stuff that has established many a stand-up comic’s career but as we smirk cynically, a whole crop of beauty queens is going about doing their work of saving the world. This, even long after their contracts with the respective beauty pageant organisers is over.
Aishwarya Rai Bachchan who still wears the crown of being world’s most beautiful, has been no different — she has juggled her acting, endorsements and family duties rather gamely and still not dropped the charity ball. She continues her association with the eye donations, education for girls, underprivileged children and more.
Sushmita Sen, that most dazzling of beauty pageant winners with her big, warm hug — she could give Amma Amrutanandmayee’s jhappis a run for their money — and one you’d more likely think of in the context of a jet-setting diva lifestyle has done her bit too. Her very own attempt to take on the Indian franchisee for the Miss Universe pageant — called I Am She — ran out of steam but her charity involvements have not. Just recently, she attended a charity power luncheon for NGOs like Prerna (that assist and rehabilitate) organised by artist Rouble Nagi (despite her younger daughter being rather unwell).
During the course of lunch, speaking of her charitable ventures, Sen mentioned that charity occasionally involved her meeting the richest of people across the globe and then begging for some money to support a good cause. Through an afternoon of wine and food among ladies who lunch, she would be easy to dismiss as someone merely cut out for the good life. But watching her skillfully connect and exchange numbers with a couple of seriously rich ladies (I am going by the diamonds on their rings and the fact that they had political connections), all the while encouraging the NGO ladies to share details of the work that they do, suggested that she does a very good job with charity (she runs her very own I Am She Foundation). Also, the fact that she had personally visited a lot of areas these NGOs were working in and was well aware of the work going on in the sector.
Well, according to spin-doctors and talent management agencies, charity is always a great way to stay continued…
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