Entertainment /
South Asia’s Beauty Pageant Winners
As the new Miss America Nina Davuluri makes news worldwide, we list here some past South Asian beauty queens who won pageants on an international level.
Reita Faria
Perhaps not known to most today, Faria was not only the first Indian or South Asian to win the Miss World title(1966), she was also the first from all of Asia. Not following the usual Bollywood of modeling path post her win, she earned an MBBS degree and practiced medicine.
Zeenat Aman
Bollywood evergeen sex-symbol Aman became the first Indian woman to win Miss Asia Pacific in 1970. She had a very successfull film career post her win, and is remembered for her role as a hippie in 1971's Hare Rama Hare Krishna.
Sushmita Sen
Winning the Miss Universe pageant in 1994, this 5’9 beauty went on to a successful Bollywood and modeling career in India. Considered a fashion and style icon in India, Sen broke grounds by adopting two children as a single parent.
Aishwarya Rai Bachchan
Often cited as one of the world’s most beautiful women, Rai won the Miss World pageant, also in 1994. Her tremendous success and star-power in India and abroad is well-known, she is also a brand ambassador for various international brands.
Lara Dutta
Dutta followed suit six years later, by winning the coveted Miss India pageant in 2000, by winning highest scores ever recorded in both swimsuit and interview rounds. She has enjoyed moderate success in Bollywood.
Dia Mirza
Having won the Miss Asia Pacific title in 2000, Mirza has had considerable success in the world of Bollywood and modeling. She co-owns a production house called Born Free Entertainment, and has produced one movie under the title.
Manasvi Mamgai
Winning Miss Tourism International in 2007, Mamgai has gone on to walking ramps for top designers such as Tarun Tahiliani and Manish Malhotra.
Nicole Faria
Bangalorean Nicole Faria was the first Indian woman to win the Miss Earth competition in 2010. Since her win, Faria has walked the ramp for various fashion weeks, and has posed for Voge Australia. She will be making her Bollywood debut in 2014.
Image Sources:
IMDB
post.jagran.com
bollywoodmoviefashion.blogspot.com
www.desimartini.com
Cover Image: starpulse.com
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