Diana Hayden
Hayden in 2017
Born (1973-05-01) 1 May 1973
Hyderabad, India
Alma mater
Occupations
  • Actress
  • television host
  • model
Height1.73 m (5 ft 8 in)[1]
Spouse
Collin Dick
​
(m. 2013)​
Children3
Beauty pageant titleholder
TitleFemina Miss India World 1997
Miss World 1997
Years active1997– 2012
Major
competition(s)

Diana Hayden (born 1 May 1973) is an Indian actress, television host, model and the winner of Miss World 1997. She is the third Indian woman to win the title of Miss World.[2] She also won three sub-titles during the pageant and is the only Miss World titleholder to do so. In 2008, she was a celebrity contestant in the reality show Bigg Boss.

Early life

Hayden was born in Hyderabad, Telangana, India, in an Anglo-Indian Christian family.[3] She attended St. Ann's High School in Secunderabad.[4][5] Her parents separated when she was in school and she had to start working at the age of 13. She worked for an event management company called Encore, during when she began taking up modelling assignments.[6] At the age of 21, she worked as a Public Relations Officer at BMG Crescendo, where she assisted in managing the careers of singers Anaida and Mehnaz Hoosein.[5]

Pageantry

Hayden's journey in pageantry began at the age of 23, when a friend recommended her to enter Femina Miss India.[7] She was then shortlisted for the Femina Miss India 1997 contest. She finished second place and earned the title of Miss India World. She represented India at the 47th edition of the Miss World pageant held in Baie Lazare, Seychelles.[8] A total of 86 delegates competed for the title and at the end of the event, Hayden was crowned as Miss World 1997.[9]

During the question and answer segment of the competition, Hayden was asked - "Why do you want to become Miss World?", and relied:

I draw inspiration from a famous writer and poet, William Butler Yeats, who once wrote - 'With Dreams Begin Responsibility.' Well for me, this title is that dream and the responsibility it brings, I cherish that in a small way I could make a difference and help the dreams of others. Thank you.[10]

Hayden was also crowned as the "Miss World - Asia and Oceania" during the Miss World contest. In addition, she won the titles Miss Photogenic and Spectacular Swimwear. Hayden is the only Miss World titleholder to win three subtitles during the competition. She is the third Indian woman to win the Miss World pageant, after Reita Faria in 1966 and Aishwarya Rai Bachchan in 1994.

After her win at Miss World, she was signed up to endorse L'Oréal, Colgate and Chopard in India.[11] She has been associated with various charities including Child Rights and You (CRY), Greenpeace, PETA and the Spastics Society of India. She has supported several causes to spread awareness about cancer and HIV/AIDS.[12]

Career

Hayden at her book launch in 2012

Following her year as Miss World, Hayden moved to London and studied acting at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art.[13] 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.[13] In 2001, she made her screen debut in the film version of Shakespeare's Othello in South Africa.

She hosted Miss Europe in 2001 and 2002 in Lebanon, along with Miss Lebanon 1997 and Julien Lepers. Diana was signed in 2006 as the face of the Avalon Academy and currently serves as a celebrity Guest Lecturer for airline personnel training programmes.[13]

In 2008, Hayden was a wild card entry on the second season of the Indian TV show Bigg Boss, and was voted off in Week 13.[14]

Hayden spent two years writing A Beautiful Truth, an "encyclopedia on grooming and also deals with personality development and confidence building". It was published on 6 August 2012.[15][16]

Personal life

Hayden is married to Collin Dick, an American businessman from Nevada.[17] He had been working in Mumbai for an international NGO.[18] In an interview, Hayden had stated that she met Dick when he came as a prospective tenant to rent her apartment.[19] They got married in a private ceremony which was attended by their family and close friends, on 13 September 2013. The wedding took place in a country club in Las Vegas.[20]

In 2016, she gave birth to a girl. The child was born from an egg that Hayden had frozen 8 years previously.[21][22] In November 2017, Hayden confirmed that she was pregnant for the second time.[23] In March 2018, she gave birth to twins, a boy and a girl.[24]

Controversy

In 2018, Biplab Kumar Deb, the Chief Minister of Tripura commented on Hayden during a public speech.[25] He questioned the rationale behind crowning Hayden as Miss World in 1997 and claimed that all international beauty pageants were a farce, since Hayden, who Deb found to be not beautiful was crowned in 1997.[26]

Deb said - "Tell me, did she [Diana] deserve it? I can understand Aishwarya Rai getting it, at least she has traits of an Indian beauty." He went on to add that "for Indians, Goddess Lakshmi and Saraswati exemplify beauty. I don't understand the beauty of Diana Hayden."[27]

Deb's remarks prompted a backlash from netizens and social activists.[28][29][30] Hayden responded with:

I am fighting this brown skin bias since my childhood, and I have succeeded. I am a proud brown-skinned Indian and I am hurt. I've had to fight the 'light skin is better' issue we have in India. I felt so strongly about it that I turned down a fairness cream ad because it went against my belief. The minister is in a prominent position and he should be careful about what he says.[31]

Deb later expressed regret and apologized for his remarks on Hayden.[32][33]

Filmography

Films

Year TitleRoleNotesRef.
2003 Tehzeeb Sheena Roy [34]
2004 Ab... Bas! Somiya Mathur [35]
2006 Othello: A South African Tale Emilia [36]
All Alone Cameo [37]
2012 Lorie: The Loving Doll Actress [38]

Television

Year TitleRoleNotesRef.
1997 Femina Miss India 1997 Herself National pageant [39]
Miss World 1997 Herself International pageant [40]
1998 Miss World 1998 Herself/Reigning Miss World International pageant [41]
2000 Wisden Cricketers of the Century Host [42]
2002 Miss Europe 2002 Host [43]
2003 Holby City Nat Hussein Cameo [44]
2005 Biography with Diana Hayden Host [45]
Miss World 2005 Judge International pageant [46]
2008 Bigg Boss 2 Contestant 6th place [47]
2009 Femina Miss India 2009 Judge National pageant [48]
2011 Ad Asia Awards Host [49]
2012 Laureus World Sports Awards Host [45]

References

  1. ↑ Chopra, Anupama; Menon, Amarnath K. (8 December 1997). "Beauty, brains, loads of confidence see Diana Hayden walk away with Miss World crown". India Today. Archived from the original on 27 February 2022. Diana Hayden, all 5 ft 8 inches of her, was making an impression long before the judging began.
  2. ↑ "Diana Hayden says she is proud of her brown skin as Biplab Deb says didn't intend to hurt anyone". Hindustan Times. 27 April 2018. Retrieved 24 November 2021.
  3. ↑ "With Yeats on her lips, India's own Diana Hayden crowned Miss World". Rediff.com. 23 November 1997. Archived from the original on 30 May 2010. Retrieved 25 December 2010.
  4. ↑ "From Sushmita Sen to Diana Hayden, see how educated your favourite Indian beauty pageant winners are". India Times. 25 July 2017. Archived from the original on 30 March 2019. Retrieved 15 February 2018.
  5. 1 2 "Biography of Diana Hayden". WhereInCity India Information. Archived from the original on 20 September 2010. Retrieved 25 December 2010.
  6. ↑ Babbar, Sonakshi (25 June 2012). "I worked day and night: Diana Hayden". The Hindustan Times.
  7. ↑ "These photos prove that Miss World 1997 Diana Hayden is no less beautiful than Aishwarya Rai". Zoom TV. 27 April 2018.
  8. ↑ "When Diana Hayden was crowned Miss World 1997". Indiatimes. 27 April 2018.
  9. ↑ "Diana Hayden: Being brown skinned, I've had to fight the 'light skin is better' issue". The Indian Express. 28 April 2018. Archived from the original on 24 March 2019. Retrieved 21 May 2019.
  10. ↑ "6 Answers That Made India Win The Miss World Title". New Woman. Retrieved 7 November 2020.
  11. ↑ "Femina Miss India World 1997, Diana Hayden". beautypageants.indiatimes.com.
  12. ↑ "When Diana Hayden proved she's more than a beauty queen". 27 April 2018. Archived from the original on 17 October 2018. Retrieved 21 May 2019.
  13. 1 2 3 "Biography of Diana Hayden". DianaHayden.com. Archived from the original on 10 July 2011. Retrieved 25 December 2010.
  14. ↑ "Diana Hayden in Bigg Boss house". Times of India. 15 September 2008. Archived from the original on 2 July 2018. Retrieved 27 April 2018.
  15. ↑ "Beauty guide". The Hindu. Chennai, India. 5 August 2012. Archived from the original on 12 October 2020. Retrieved 6 August 2012.
  16. ↑ "Diana Hayden launches her book at Vadodara!". The Times of India. 6 August 2012. Archived from the original on 9 August 2013. Retrieved 6 August 2012.
  17. ↑ "Diana Hayden ties the knot in Las Vegas". Hindustan Times. 18 September 2013. Archived from the original on 12 October 2020. Retrieved 27 December 2019.
  18. ↑ "Diana Hayden walks down the aisle with Collin Dick in Las Vegas". Daily Bhaskar. 18 September 2013. Archived from the original on 27 December 2019. Retrieved 27 December 2019.
  19. ↑ Jamvwal, Nisha (18 September 2013). "Long road to a fairytale ending". The Deccan Chronicle. Archived from the original on 27 December 2019. Retrieved 27 December 2019.
  20. ↑ "Diana Hayden gets married". 20 September 2013. Retrieved 27 December 2019.
  21. ↑ "Ex-Miss World gives birth from egg frozen for 8 years". The Times of India. 13 January 2016. Archived from the original on 28 November 2017. Retrieved 3 December 2017.
  22. ↑ "Diana Hayden's Baby Girl Was Born from a Frozen Egg. Here's What This Means for Indian Women". The Better India. 12 January 2016. Archived from the original on 4 December 2017. Retrieved 3 December 2017.
  23. ↑ "Diana Hayden pregnant second time with eggs she froze 3 years ago". The Times of India. 18 November 2017. Archived from the original on 25 August 2018. Retrieved 3 December 2017.
  24. ↑ "Diana Hayden gave birth to a healthy baby girl at the age of 42". 12 March 2018. Archived from the original on 24 August 2018. Retrieved 24 August 2018.
  25. ↑ "Biplab Kumar Deb as CM: Things He Said That We Wish He Hadn't". The Quint. 21 July 2020.
  26. ↑ "Tripura : "Diana Hayden does not deserve to be Miss World", CM Biplab Deb". The Economic Times. 27 April 2018.
  27. ↑ Kundu, Indrajith (27 April 2018). "Aishwarya Rai has traits of Indian beauty, Diana Hayden doesn't: Tripura CM Biplab Deb". India Today.
  28. ↑ "Diana Hayden destroys Biplab Deb, Twitter calls Tripura CM's remark as 'most ridiculous quote of 2018'". DNA India. 27 April 2018.
  29. ↑ "Tripura CM Biplab Deb courts controversy again, says 1997 Miss World Diana Hayden not 'an Indian beauty' like Aishwarya Rai". The Indian Express. 26 April 2018.
  30. ↑ Aloke Tikku (28 April 2018). "To Diana Hayden Brown-And-Proud Rebuke, Tripura Chief Minister's Apology". NDTV.
  31. ↑ Amrita Ray (27 April 2018). ""Proud Of My Exotic Brown Skin Colour," Diana Hayden Hits Back At Tripura Chief Minister Biplab Deb". NDTV.
  32. ↑ "Tripura CM Biplab Kumar Deb apologises for remark on Diana Hayden". Free Press Journal. 29 May 2018.
  33. ↑ "Tripura CM Biplab Deb regrets his remark against Diana Hayden". The Times of India. 27 April 2018.
  34. ↑ "Tehzeeb". Reddif.com. Archived from the original on 10 February 2018. Retrieved 9 February 2018.
  35. ↑ "Ab... Bas! - Times of India". Times of India. 25 November 2004. Retrieved 8 June 2019.
  36. ↑ "Othello: A South African Tale". British Universities Film and Council. Archived from the original on 10 February 2018. Retrieved 9 February 2018.
  37. ↑ "Diana Hayden's biography". www.webindia123.com. 19 September 2012. Archived from the original on 8 June 2019. Retrieved 8 June 2019.
  38. ↑ Salvadore, Sarah (10 February 2011). "Actor Karan Singh Grover has signed a film opposite former Miss World Diana Hayden". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 12 October 2020. Retrieved 8 June 2019.
  39. ↑ "When Diana Hayden was crowned as Miss World 1997". Indiatimes. 27 April 2018.
  40. ↑ "Miss India, quoting Irish poet wins Miss World 1997". New Straits Times. 24 November 1997. Archived from the original on 5 March 2016. Retrieved 8 June 2019.
  41. ↑ "Linor cruises to Miss World title". BBC News. 27 November 1998. Retrieved 25 January 2016.
  42. ↑ "Diana Hayden makes a flying start". Zee News. 10 January 2014. Archived from the original on 8 June 2019. Retrieved 8 June 2019.
  43. ↑ "Biography of Diana Hayden, Miss World 1997". Archived from the original on 8 June 2019. Retrieved 8 June 2019.
  44. ↑ "Diana Hayden, Miss World 1997 - ETimes profile". Indiatimes. 6 April 2011.
  45. 1 2 "India Speakers Bureau - Diana Hayden". 16 August 2012. Archived from the original on 8 June 2019. Retrieved 8 June 2019.
  46. ↑ "The Manila Times". 16 December 2005. Archived from the original on 7 March 2016. Retrieved 30 June 2019.
  47. ↑ "Diana Hayden on her Bigg Boss stint in 2008: The best was that my Hindi improved tremendously". Indian Express. 5 February 2018. Archived from the original on 24 March 2019. Retrieved 8 June 2019.
  48. ↑ "First look: Femina Miss India 2009 wild card winners". 13 January 2009. Archived from the original on 8 June 2019. Retrieved 8 June 2019.
  49. ↑ "Diana Hayden's keynote speech". Leading Speaker's Bureau. 9 August 2011. Archived from the original on 8 June 2019. Retrieved 8 June 2019.
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