‘The Hottest Woman In The World’ Priyanka Chopra Also Has A Sense Of Humor

Priyanka Chopra is a force to be reckoned with, rising in fame and recognition in Hollywood with just as much passion as she has done in her homeland of India, but as she gains more notice in western cinema, Ms. Priyanka also becomes the subject of media scrutiny, as any other Hollywood actress. The recent incident of “armpit gate,” which was prompted by Maxim’s photoshopped cover image of the Quantico actress, is the most recent example of that media scrutiny and following the public outrage, Priyanka has responded to the incident with charm and good humor.

Quantico Star Priyanka Chopra Reacts To Her “Armpit Gate” Scandal

Ms. Chopra is raising attention for herself with her roles in ABC’s Quantico and in the Baywatch feature film reboot, which may be what first drew the attention of Maxim magazine in featuring Priyanka as “The Hottest Woman in the World,” but apparently, even that title doesn’t necessarily mean one’s body is flawless. Almost as soon as the Maxim edition hit the stands, public backlash shamed Maxim photo editors for touching up the cover image of Priyanka. Specifically, Maxim was accused of airbrushing Chopra’s armpit and going a bit too far, almost eliminating the pit completely.

Dubbed “Armpit Gate,” the online criticism didn’t take long to reach Priyanka Chopra herself. Priyanka has since responded to the controversy, posting an image of herself on Instagram in which she exposes the same armpit. In the new photo, Ms. Chopra’s armpit has the same lack of indentation as the Maxim cover, proving that the “Hottest Woman in the World” hasn’t actually been airbrushed in the way that many have assumed.

“Here is another ‘pit-stopping’ picture to add to the debate. #WillTheRealArmpitPleaseStandUp #nofilter #armpitdiaries,” Ms. Chopra captioned the picture.

Priyanka Chopra’s Father’s Day Weekend Was Marked With Mourning

Aside from her beloved father, who also passed away recently, Priyanka just lost her maternal grandmother, a woman who raised her from early childhood, until she was 6- or 7-years-old. Sharing images of her grandmother and the news that she had passed away in her sleep, Ms. Chopra adds that she hopes, when her own time comes, she’ll be able to go just as peacefully.

While saying goodbye to her grandmother has certainly been difficult, that loss hasn’t been nearly as devastating as losing her father, Ashok Chopra. Priyanka often shares photos and thoughts about her father on her various social media accounts, revealing a deep vulnerability, when it comes to family and particularly when opening about the bond she shared with her father.

“His death has been a big blow. I still haven’t dealt with it,” Ms. Chopra says. “I don’t know if I’ve healed, but it doesn’t hurt either. I don’t think I have accepted it. I feel like I’m travelling all over the world, and dad will be home when I return. I think grief becomes your constant companion. You just learn to live with it.”

Professionally, Priyanka is proud of the great strides she’s made with Quantico and Hollywood films in eliminating the Indian stereotype in cinema, but she’s just as quick to point out that there’s still much more to be done to equalize the treatment of Indian characters in Hollywood filmmaking.

“India is an experience, and so are our films. The world will not understand Bollywood because it comprises a different style of telling stories. Also, their culture (the West) isn’t as musical as ours. They reduce our songs and dances to a joke, a spoof or a gimmick. But music is in our veins, and that is our superpower. We shouldn’t be apologetic about it,” says Priyanka.

[Image by David Becker/Getty Images]