When Aishwarya Rai gave a fitting reply to British interviewer who said, ‘You are encouraging men to ogle at women in swimsuits’

During one of her interviews in the West, Aishwarya Rai was told by a reporter that the beauty pageants are 'encouraging men to ogle at women in swimsuits'. This was after she won the Miss World pageant.

By: Entertainment Desk

New Delhi | Updated: July 6, 2023 10:51 AM IST

2 min read

Aishwarya Rai won the Miss World title in 1994. (Photo: Express Archives)

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Aishwarya Rai became a popular face not just in India but across the world after winning the Miss World title held at Sun City, South Africa in 1994. But during one of her interviews in the West, she was told by a reporter that the beauty pageants are ‘encouraging men to ogle at women in swimsuits’. The actor reasoned that all that happens at the beauty pageants is to raise funds for charitable organisations. However, later she only spoke against the bikini round in these competitions.

During her appearance on the British TV show, ‘The Morning’, Aishwarya was told by the host, “Whatever the reasons be, you are encouraging men to sit in front of television and ogling and look at the pretty bodies in swimsuits.”

Answering the question, Aishwarya said, “I think this is the wrong way of thinking. A pageant like this does have a motto, it’s beauty with a purpose. You go on to become an ambassador which helps to generate a lot of funds towards charity. These charitable organisations, not only in this country but worldwide benefit. The gist is fun but it has a purpose behind it. The evening would obviously be glamorous because it is entertainment, it is showbiz.”

Also read | Aishwarya Rai clinched Miss World 1994 title with this answer, watch her crowning moment

Though she convinced the interviewer with her answer, in a later interview, the former beauty queen admitted that she did not feel comfortable donning a bikini.

She said during a press conference, “After my pageant in 1994, the bikini round was cancelled in 1995. I had expressed it to the organisers even then that it was not naturally comfortable for some of us belonging to different nationalities to wear a bikini on the ramp. I wasn’t speaking solely for me but for a lot of girls from countries where the swimwear round was not necessary.”

Aishwarya was last seen in Mani Ratnam’s Ponniyin Selvan.

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