Diana Hayden

[Nefertiti]

Diana Hayden (born 1 May 1973) is a beauty pageant titleholder from India who won the Femina Miss India contest in 1997 and was crowned Miss World 1997.

Diana Hayden was born in Hyderabad, in the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh, in a Anglo-Indian family.

She attended St. Ann's High School, Secunderabad, until the eight standard. Hayden continued her studies through open schooling and correspondence, and graduated from Osmania University having majored in English.

Before she began modeling, she worked for an event management company called Encore. She then worked as a public relations officer at BMG Crescendo, where she assisted in managing the careers of models Anaida and Mehnaz. On Anaida's recommendation she entered herself into the Miss India contest in 1997.

Diana Hayden won the Femina Miss India World crown in 1997, and then went on to win the Miss World crown in the same year. By doing so, she became the third Indian woman to win the Miss World pageant, after Reita Faria in 1966 and Aishwarya Rai in 1994.

Following her tenure as the global representative for the Miss World organization, Hayden moved to the UK and studied acting at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art.

She also studied at the Drama Studio London, where she concentrated on the works of Shakespeare and earned a Best Actress nomination from the studio.

In 2001, she made her screen debut in the film version of Shakespeare's Othello in South Africa.

Diana was signed by the Avalon Academy in 2006 as the face of the Academy and currently serves as a celebrity guest lecturer for airline personnel training programs.

In 2008, Diana Hayden became a wild card entry on the second season of the popular Indian TV show Bigg Boss. She was voted off Bigg Boss during Week 13; the episode was aired on 7 November 2008.

Filmography

* Othello: A South African Tale (2006)

* Ab Bas! (2004)

* Tehzeeb (2003)

* Holby City (TV Series) (2003)

[Nefertiti]

MIPTV 2011 Opening Cocktail & Digital Emmy Awards in Cannes (April 4, 2011)

Miss World 1997 Presents 'The Incredible Indian Bride' Photocall - MIPTV 2011 in Cannes (Apr 5, 2011)