Taking to her social media and sharing a throwback picture, Sushmita Sen paid tribute to her successor of the Miss Universe title, Chelsi Smith. Chelsi had won the Miss Texas USA pageant in 1995 and went on to win Miss USA and Miss Universe in the same year. She died due to liver cancer on September 8 at the age of 45 in Los Angeles. Sen had shared the pic along with a heartfelt note which read, “I loved her smile & that generous spirit!!! Rest in peace my beautiful friend @Chelsi_Smith #MissUniverse1995”.

I loved her smile & that generous spirit!!! Rest in peace my beautiful friend @Chelsi_Smith #MissUniverse1995 Dugga Dugga ?? pic.twitter.com/rm63b98Q72

— sushmita sen (@thesushmitasen) September 9, 2018

The passing away of the former Miss Universe shocked the entire fraternity. Shanna Moakler, who was a runner-up at Miss USA 1995, wrote an emotional note for Smith on Instagram. She wrote, “Having a hard time writing this. Found out the news of my good friend passing. I really don't know how to express to the world what a funny, loving, smart! She was so fucking smart... to smart for her own good and talented young woman she was. Because her light was so big and so bright, she changed my life. If it wasn't for her, her beauty and her energy, her incredible destiny, I wouldn't even be where I am today. Even when she was sick she was positive and radiant and never stopped laughing. I was crying and she was cheering me up! Thats who she was. Chelsi, I will never forget our long nights talking, singing, fighitng, dreaming... pageantry will never be the same, the world and my heart will not be the same. I will cherish my last conversations with you, I wish I was a better friend or could have done more. I know you are meant for bigger things then this world offered you. Visit me in my dreams queen I will be missing you and all your witty banter. Love love love you. Godspeed.”

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Having a hard time writing this. Found out the news of my good friend passing. I really don't know how to express to the world what a funny, loving, smart! She was so fucking smart... to smart for her own good and talented young woman she was. Because her light was so big and so bright, she changed my life. If it wasn't for her, her beauty and her energy, her incredible destiny, I wouldn't even be where I am today. Even when she was sick she was positive and radiant and never stopped laughing. I was crying and she was cheering me up! Thats who she was. Chelsi, I will never forget our long nights talking, singing, fighitng, dreaming... pageantry will never be the same, the world and my heart will not be the same. I will cherish my last conversations with you, I wish I was a better friend or could have done more. I know you are meant for bigger things then this world offered you. Visit me in my dreams queen I will be missing you and all your witty banter. Love love love you. Godspeed.

A post shared by Shanna Moakler (@shannamoakler) on Sep 8, 2018 at 1:54pm PDT

Rest In Peace Miss Universe 1995, Chelsi Smith ♥️ Such a sweet & bubbly soul. My heart goes out to her family and loves ones during this difficult time. pic.twitter.com/d6BzKX4Fpk

— Kamie Crawford (@TheRealKamie) September 9, 2018

May love and light go with you on your next journey @Chelsi_Smith . You took the world by storm as Miss Universe 1995 & you continued to open your heart to so many. R.I.P. my beautiful friend. You will truly be missed!?? #MissUniverse #MissUSA #misstexasusa pic.twitter.com/QDxOnDZYs4

— Sharron Melton (@sharronmelton01) September 8, 2018

After winning the title, Smith later featured in films and TV shows. She was also a celebrity contestant on the American television show ‘Wheel of Fortune’.