By: Lifestyle DeskNew Delhi | Updated: November 24, 2025 01:31 PM IST 3 min readAishwarya Rai speaks about representing India at Miss World (Photo: Express Archives)Aishwarya Rai, who won the Miss World title in 1994, once shared how it felt to be crowned. “There. They announced me as the winner and I was astonished. It’s really not practiced. It’s just something that happens at that time because you don’t expect to win,” said Rai, on her iconic reaction to her win announcement.She added that the “most incredible [thing] about the moment was that your country is announced”. “It’s not Aishwarya who is announced. It is Miss India. And for me, somewhere, going to that pageant was not about being a beauty queen or telling the world, ‘Do you think I am beautiful?’ It was about representing India internationally,” she shared in the undated video.ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW VIDEOReflecting on her statement, Subhash HJ, counsellor and mental health educator, Vasavi Hospitals, Bengaluru, said that winning while representing a country invokes more pride than winning for oneself.“It satisfies our core psychological need for belongingness, and our identity of self. As much as individual identity, our brains are wired for social connections and collective identity,” said Subhash. Here’s what to consider (Photo: Freepik)Whenever we represent a country, such wins impact positively on the group of people we identify with. According to Subhash, this also results in large public affection, greater love and support from fellow citizens, and the community we belong to.“The key factor here is also the ‘hero narrative’ one gets after winning for a country, triggering a dopamine surge in our brains, which isn’t the same as individual gains. This can often become a part of their core identity and make their life more purpose-driven and responsible,” said Subhash.Also Read | When tennis star Novak Djokovic spoke about his mental strength: ‘It is not a gift’Calling humans as “meaning makers,” the counsellor continued, “Whenever we derive a meaning and purpose out of our actions, we feel a greater motivation and resilience in challenging tasks. So, while representing a country, we feel that our actions are more significant than they actually are. This positively impacts our performance and gives greater joy when achieved.”Story continues below this adIn the end, representing and winning a crown for our country is not just about the flag, the anthem, or the medal; it’s fuelled by our brain’s deep need for purpose, meaning, and belongingness to the nation. For more lifestyle news, click here to join our WhatsApp Channel and also follow us on Instagram© IE Online Media Services Pvt Ltd