Actress, model, and former Miss Universe Lara Dutta began her career when she won the annual Gladsrags modeling competition in her native India in 1997. She continued to work in modeling and the pageant circuit until she'd achieved the highest honor she could. After earning her degree in Economics from Bombay University, she went on to make her feature-film debut in the Bollywood movie Andaaz in 2003. Her beauty and charm were a hit with audiences, and her star continued to rise on the Bollywood scene, eventually making her one of the most popular actresses in her industry.