On this day in 1994, Bollywood actress Sushmita Sen made history by clinching the prestigious title of Miss Universe.

As the first Indian to be crowned Miss Universe, she carved her name in the annals of Indian beauty pageantry. To commemorate the 29th anniversary of this momentous occasion, Sen took to her social media, captivating her fans with a throwback picture and a heartfelt caption.

The internet is abuzz with congratulatory messages from her ardent supporters, accompanied by nostalgic photos from that unforgettable day.

In the throwback picture, Sushmita shared a captivating closeup of her youthful 18-year-old self. With hands gracefully framing her face, she exudes confidence as she gazes directly into the camera.

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A post shared by Sushmita Sen (@sushmitasen47)

Reflecting on the moment, she penned a poignant caption, recounting the photo's origin and the significance it holds. She expressed her gratitude to the esteemed photographer Prabuddha Dasgupta, who captured the rawness of her beauty in this iconic shot. Dasgupta, in turn, acknowledged Sen's historic feat, remarking that she was the first Miss Universe he had ever photographed. Sen proudly emphasised that she was, in fact, India's first-ever Miss Universe, embracing the privilege of representing her motherland.

"This picture is exactly 29 years old, shot by the epic man and photographer Prabuddha Dasgupta. In the rawness of this picture, he beautifully captured an 18-year-old me…with a smile he said, you realise you're the first Miss Universe I've ever shot…I proudly added, it's actually INDIA's first ever Miss Universe," she wrote.

"The privilege of representing and winning for my Motherland is an honour so profound, it brings me to tears of joy even today...29 years later!!! I celebrate and remember this day with great pride as History bears witness, INDIA won Miss Universe for the first time ever on May 21, 1994 in Manila," she added.  

With her heartfelt tribute, Sushmita Sen immortalises the significance of her Miss Universe triumph, leaving an indelible mark on the hearts of her admirers.