Actor Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, who recently gave birth to a baby girl, made her first official appearance post motherhood at L'Oréal Paris Femina Women Awards 2012 held in Mumbai on Thursday evening.

The award ceremony was a part of the celebration of 40th anniversary of cosmetic major L'Oréal Paris.

The L'Oréal Paris ‘Because You're Worth It' award was presented by L'Oréal Paris brand ambassador Aishwarya to winners-Anand & Nicola Esteves- of a contest where participants had to nominate a special woman in their lives.

Aishwarya said, "A woman is the full circle. Within her is the power to create, nurture and transform.

"The ‘Because You're Worth It' award is very special to me, it has been instituted for the woman who maybe has not hit the limelight for her achievements but has carried forth in her efforts to enrich her life and the lives of those around her."

The actor had a surprise up her sleeve when she gave away a special award to the woman most worth it to her - her mother Vrinda Rai.

"I would like to thank L'Oréal Paris for giving me such a great platform to show my appreciation to the woman who's most worth it to me, the nucleus of my life, my mother," Aishwarya said.



L'Oréal Paris brand ambassador and actor Sonam Kapoor presented the Editors Choice L'Oréal Paris Femina Women Award for Beauty Specialist to make up artist Namrata Soni.

Sonam said, "L'Oréal Paris has always made me feel empowered and beautiful from within.

"Their slogan ‘Because I am Worth It' re-affirms my belief that we as women are strong individuals who have the right to stand for what we are and what we believe in because we are all worth it."