Shikha Swaroop

Shikha was born in the Punjabi-speaking Swaroop family in Delhi on October 23. She obtained her degree from St. Stephen's College. While still in college, she was crowned Miss India 1988 and continued to wear this crown until 1991 when she relinquished it to Preeti Mankotia. No beauty contests were held during 1989 and 1990 due to the demise of Eve's Weekly. The contests resumed after a new sponsor, Femina, took over in 1991. Apart from being crowned Miss India 1988, she won a gold medal in the All India Pistol Shooting Championship in 1988 itself. Apart from modeling, she played badminton on a national level. Before her career catapulted, she suffered a major setback when she became seriously ill. She has appeared in several '90s Bollywood movies, and also on television in a serial called 'Chandrakanta'. She also runs her own garment export business.