Why Sushmita Sen is the beauty queen the world needs: Gulf News spotted her doing something truly remarkable

Dubai: In a world where celebrities are often seen as distant, unapproachable icons, former Miss Universe and Bollywood actress Sushmita Sen reminded us what it means to be real.

At the Aster Guardians Global Nursing Awards in Dubai on May 26, Sushmita wasn’t just there to play chief guest — she showed up with the grace of a queen and the humility of a friend.

While the cameras flashed and formalities unfolded at the awards ceremony, Gulf News witnessed a small but unforgettable moment: Sen, after casually fixing her own makeup, leaned over to help one of the award-winning nurses, Naomi Oyoe Ohene Oti, with hers. No handlers. No fuss. Just a spontaneous, intimate gesture that spoke volumes.

It wasn’t choreographed. It wasn’t meant for the spotlight. It was instinctive — the kind of genuine connection that makes you forget she’s a star and instead see her as someone who gets it.

“Being a nurse is like being a mum. It’s a thankless job,” Sen told Gulf News during a one-on-one chat. “Through that, you keep on doing what you do — for the love of what you do, or the people, or just the honourable position you are in and the job you’ve taken up.”

Crowned Miss Universe in 1994 — the first Indian woman to win the title — Sen has long since transcended the pageant world. She’s now a single mother, a fierce actor (most recently in Aarya), an entrepreneur, and a woman unafraid to speak her truth.

During our chat, she was candid about her recent health scare — a heart attack in 2023 that required a stent — and how it deepened her respect for healthcare professionals.

“Healthcare is something that, as you know, in my recent outings, I've had a lot of,” she said with a wry smile. But the evening wasn’t about her. She kept redirecting attention to the nurses being honoured.

“I would love to take credit for that, because it’s an honour to be here and do this,” she said. “But the credit purely lies with Aster, the entire team. Just coming up with this initiative of the Guardians Global Nursing Awards in itself is commendable.”