Tanushree Dutta might be one of the hottest properties in tinsel town now. But there was a time when this Bong beauty had a complex about her looks.

"Till I went to Sanya, a Chinese Beach city, to compete for the Miss World 2004 title, I was always worried about the way my hair, skin and clothes looked. Physical appearance defined beauty for me then," recalls the dusky actress.

But when she made friends with localities and the other contestants, she overcame her prejudices. "Earlier, dark complexion meant ugly for me. But soon I realized that dark complexioned people were also big achievers, true winners in their countries. Physical appearance does not matter," says Tanushree.

As a parting gift, Tanushree gifted all her fellow contestants bindis and Indian nose-pins. Later that evening, she had a pleasant surprise awaiting her. When her friends joined her at the dinner table all of them were wearing the bindis and nose-pins!