This is a patchwork of articles selected for the excellence of their content. You can help by plugging gaps in the information given below, especially about the years before and after these beauty queens won their crowns, because photographs and biographical details might not be available for that period. All contributions will be acknowledged. Readers can also send text and photographs about regional/ diaspora/ college beauty contests. (Example Miss Wokha, Miss Tokhu). Obviously, readers will not send any text or photograph that lowers the dignity of South Asia's beauty queens. Readers can send additional information, corrections, and photographs to the Facebook page, Indpaedia.com.

Miss India winners: 1997

Miss India Universe - Nafisa Joseph

Miss India World - Diana Hayden, Miss World, 1997

Miss India Asia-Pacific - Divya Chauhan

Representative at Miss International - Diya Abraham,

Nafisa Joseph

Miss India Universe - Nafisa Joseph, Semi finalist/ tenth place at Miss Universe

Nafisa Joseph (March 28, 1978 - July 29, 2004) was an Indian model and MTV video jockey. She was the winner of Miss India Universe 1997 and was a semi finalist in the Miss Universe pageant. She started modelling at age 12 when her neighbour got her an opportunity to model for a Wearhouse ad. and went on to become a model and MTV video jockey.

She portrayed great confidence at the Miss Universe pageant as well, and in reply to one of the questions, she said that, to bring a child into the world and not able to offer it peace was the biggest injustice done in the world. Later, Nafisa was a known face as she rattles all the latest chart-busters on MTV.

Nafisa Joseph was born on 28 March 1978 in Bangalore, India. She won Femina Miss India in 1997. She had series of physical problems including of an epilepsy but her failed relationships made her decide to commit suicide. Nafiza Joseph was a talented and socially committed person, she must have suffered a momentary emotional trauma that made her take her own life. Considering the life of service that lay ahead of her, her death is a loss that cannot be rationalised. Winning the Femina Miss India crown did not come as a big surprise to her. She portrayed great confidence at the Miss Universe pageant as well, and in reply to one of the questions, she said that, to bring a child into the world and not able to offer it peace was the biggest injustice done in the world. Nafisa passed away on 29 July 2004.

She killed herself over a dispute with her boyfriend in 29 July 2004. She wasnt successful in relationships. I guess she gave up trying to make it work.

webpoorinews

June 25, 2010, by Raj Mangalam

Nafisa Joseph hanged herself in her Versova, Mumbai home. Exactly why she did this is of course not clear but speculation involves the status of her impending marriage. Allegedly, her potential mother-in-law asked her "Do you know they (Gautam - his boyfriend- and his "ex" wife) are not yet divorced?" They were to be married on 7 August 2004 but it had to be called off.

Joseph had worked as a model and had been involved in activities related to animal rights. She was a true lover of animals. She had campaigned for many animal welfare society. Welfare of Stray Dogs and PETA were among such societies. She also had a deep interest in writing.

She wrote a column 'Nafisa for Animals' for Times of India. Every girl has a dream of getting married to a person she like. Nafisa too had this dream. She was in relationship with a business with whom she was about to get married. But all of a sudden Nafisa got to know that the businessmen is already married. This incident shaked Nafisa from inside.

Diana Hayden

Miss India World 1997

Miss Photogenic Award

Miss Beach Wear Award

Asia & Oceania’s Queen of Beauty Award

Little princess from Hyderabad crowned the world's most beautiful woman, at the Miss World pageant. After winning the crown, Diana Hayden did some movies and television shows.

Diana Hayden was born in 1 may 1973 in Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh India in a Anglo Indian Family. She was the only Miss World to have won a hat-trick at the pageant - Miss Photogenic, Miss Beachwear and Miss World 1997.

Diana Hayden- Miss World 1997: (born 1973) is a model from Hyderabad, India. Starting her career as a model by doing fashion shows in Bangalore and Mumbai, Secunderabadi girl Diana Hayden won the Miss World title in 1997. Miss World title gave her the credentials and she was signed up as the brand ambassador by L’Oreal and Child Relief and You (CRY). However, she failed to make it up to Bollywood following the footsteps of her predecessor Aishwarya Rai.Diana published a book called ‘A Beautiful Guide’ last

Nafisa Joseph

This little princess from Hyderabad flew out of the country only to return after being crowned the world's most beautiful woman, at the Miss World pageant. After winning the crown, Diana did some movies and television shows the latest being Bigg Boss.

Divya Chauhan

Miss India Asia-Pacific - Divya Chauhan, first runner up at Miss Asia Pacific, 1997

Divya Chauhan Photo BCCL

Divya Chauhan tied the knot with computer-engineer beau Avaneesh Kumar and settled down in Bangalore. Last heard, the lady was involved in theatre

Diya Abraham

Representative at Miss International - Diya Abraham, first runner up at Miss International

Diya Abraham

Sources for the Miss India series of articles on Indpaedia include, in the alphabetical order:

Daum DesiHotMasala I AM She IndianAutographs LatestNewsPics MensXp Mid-Day MissIndiaWorldUniverse Missosology Missosology Missosology Oocities Pageantopolis SabreBiade SouthDreamz The Times of India The Times of India The Times of India The Times of India The Times of India Arunima Mazumdar & Richa Barua The Times of India The Times of India Voy.com

Related articles on Indpaedia:

Miss India winners: 1997

Contents

Miss India winners: 1997

Nafisa Joseph

Diana Hayden

Divya Chauhan

Diya Abraham

Sources for the Miss India series of articles on Indpaedia include, in the alphabetical order:

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