Miss India crowned in Cyprus

Nicosia - Miss India was crowned the third millennium's first Miss Universe at dawn on Saturday in Cyprus, 3000 years after Aphrodite, the Greek goddess of love, is said to have won history's first beauty contest, Michael Jansen reports. Ms Lara Dutta (21), a model and economics student at Bombay University and a clear favourite, was chosen for poise and regal dignity as well as beauty. The Irish entry, Ms Louise Doheny of Tipperary, an engineering student, was not among the finalists.