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Honour for Aishwarya

"Aishwarya is a real international symbol for diversity"

Aishwarya Rai

LONDON: Bollywood actor Aishwarya Rai was on Thursday honoured by the European Union for her contribution to diversity.

The former Miss World was presented with the "Global Diversity Award" at a one-day conference on "Celebrating Diversity in the European Union" at Lord's Cricket Ground here.

"It is very humbling. I shall cherish this award for all times to come," Ms. Rai said after receiving the award. She thanked the Indian community for supporting her in all her ventures.

"I will also like to thank God and people at large for appreciating my contribution, particularly as a woman and as an Asian."

Keith Vaz, MP and Co-Chair of the conference, on Wednesday said Ms. Rai was a symbol of what Asian women could achieve and a real international symbol for diversity."

The conference would help the European Union to "refocus our goals and inspire the minds of leading individuals across Europe," he said.

"We are in dire need of a fresh approach to integration and of finding inspiration in a diverse environment which recognises and nurtures the talents of all people within our great European community, regardless of religion, culture or ethnicity." — PTI

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Honour for Aishwarya

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