I am shameless about the fact that I am God's favourite child...whatever his curriculum of the day, whatever I ask for, I get…
- says former Miss Universe and matinee icon, Sushmita Sen, to Shirin Mehta.

presentation than talent; forget her Miss Universe status as old hat; and the fact that we applauded her for adopting little Renee, against all odds…. And then, having peeled off these obvious layers, discover the goddess. Love the fact that she thinks about things with a quicksilver mind, that she quotes from popular songs that somehow add meaning to her life, that she smacks you with a forehead kiss the first time she sees you, that she throws herself wholly into whatever it is she is doing. And, that her rare beauty draws you in, warming instead of leaving you cold. She does not see herself as a goddess until a naughty thought occurs - why not the deity of everything. Why not Ma Durga herself. She who is the amalgamation of seven gods, drawing into herself the power of every element that exists or does not exist. "For, from her brow arose the goddess Kali; her mind symbolises Saraswati, the goddess of learning…." Suddenly, she discovers herself among the pantheon of the elevated, the exalted, the divine…and isn't she just loving it!

Verve endeavours, through the power of the elements that represent the gods, to demystify the seraphic 'Sush'.

Airy Faerie

"Air symbolises life, freedom, to me. In the last 10 years, I have valued nothing more than freedom. When I had (adopted) my daughter, my mom and dad sat me down and said, you now have a responsibility, you will have to curb yourself. But, being a mother does not mean that I sacrifice myself. I must live my life as I do and share it with someone else. Air, which has been shut in a room, goes stale. It must spread all around. In a strange way, air also symbolises to me the mind and dreams. Like air, the mind is free to go where it likes and where it is driven."

Grounded or in the air? I am an extremely passionate person. When I am grounded, I am one hundred per cent grounded and when I let go, there's no grounding me.

Personal style Asleep at night, I must be as invisible as air. I am very delicate and vulnerable when I sleep. I wear things that are almost not there - soft satins and silks.

What blows me away A well-mannered man… A moment that overwhelms me…A child's innocence…A rare, momentary feeling of helplessness…When a man loves a woman more than she loves him…And, if I decide to have a child biologically, outside of marriage, my mom will blow me away!

My autobiography Butterfly, with only the last line already written. 'What the world calls the end of a caterpillar's life, God calls a butterfly'.

Water Nymph

"The greatest part of being a woman is being a nymph. One of the joys of womanhood is being very light-footed. It is part of her poise to be nymph-like. Younger, I had a very bad temper. I teased my mom that the temper side of me is Kali. Then, I thought that I should be rock steady as a mountain. Now, I realise that I would rather be flowing water, since water can cut through mountain. The temper part of me was mountain. The endurance part of me, that my daughter has taught me with her endless questioning and wonder of things, is flowing water."

Water sign Scorpio

Teary moment I always wanted to be a princess. When I finally wore the crown (Miss Universe 1994), I held my mother tight all night long, howling and saying, now finally I am a princess.

Seafood Sushi, my most favourite food in the world. I enjoy my sushi in a particular way - there has to be mayonnaise in it, caviar all around it….

Cool description of self I am a thin, lanky girl.

Personal style When I present myself to the world, I am like water - very flowey, very fluid.

Famous last line No one is perfect. I am the goddess of imperfection.

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