The 23-year-old fashion designer Amrita Thapar was crowned Miss India Universe 2005 in Mumbai at a shining function. The daughter of a Pune-based army officer, Amrita impressed the public with her quick witted replies to questions posed by Bollywood actress Kareena Kapoor. Asked by Kapoor to describe herself in one line, the vibrant Thapar quite aptly termed herself as alive and kicking.

Amrita's mother Mona Thapar, a school teacher, was really happy for her daughter. She said: I'm am on the top of the world, I am really very happy that she has won the crown. I had taught Amrita, as I was her teacher also. Beauty is not from outside, one who is beautiful from speech, deeds and from the heart, only that person is beautiful and will win the crown."

The 5-feet-eight-inches tall miss Thapar has both post-graduate diploma in design and experience in modeling. Few years ago she won the first place in a beauty pageant in her native town Pune.

Thapar will present India at the Miss Universe pageant together with Sindhura Gadde, who won Miss India World 2005.

Sindhura Gadde is a pharmacology student and has worked as a TV presenter in New Zealand. She also worked as a model in some projects in Australia and New Zealand.

Another Indian beauty Niharika Singh won the title of Miss India Earth. India has so far won eight international beauty pageants, including two Miss Universe titles.