Reita Faria Powell is the first Asian girl to win the Miss World competition.
She was born on 23 August 1943 in British Bombay (now Mumbai). Reita’s father worked in a mineral water factory,
and her mother owned a small salon. But since childhood, Reita herself adored medicine and dreamed of devoting her
whole life to it. She did not even think about a career as a model, but in college, she was known for her impeccable style
and in 1965, purely for fun she signed up for the Miss Bombay contest and won it!
After that, the girl sent her profile to the Miss India contest according to Eva magazine (please do not confuse it
with Femina Miss India, which was won by Yasmin Daji). And, to her surprise, she won the crown again!
In 1966, Reita was chosen to represent India in the Miss World competition. With a few lipsticks borrowed from a
friend’s sari and a pair of shoes from a friend, she entered the competition. At a time when people with dark skin fought
for their rights with might and main, a dark-skinned girl conquered the world!
During the Miss World 1966 competition, she won first places in the Best in Swimsuit and Best in Evening
Wear stages, where she wore a sari. And in the end, she became the best, defeating 50 contestants from other
countries. By the way, she borrowed the swimsuit from the beautiful Persis Hambatta (who won the Miss India
pageant in 1965).
Reita Faria donated all the prize money to the orphanage. Upon her return to India, Bollywood producers literally
flooded her with offers to act in films. But Faria turned down lucrative contracts and instead focused on her medical studies.
A year after the competition, she “worked out” her title. She had to visit different countries and engage in social
work. One of these visits was a trip to Vietnam with American actor and comedian Bob Hope. They celebrated
Christmas in Vietnam with the American soldiers, and the Indian government did not like it because India was backing
the communists at the time.
Reita Farii’s trip was discussed in the country’s parliament and threatened to revoke her citizenship and confiscate her
passport. After receiving a diploma in gynecology, the girl continued her studies at King’s College Hospital in
London. In 1971, she married her teacher David Powell, and in 1973 the couple moved to Dublin, where she began her
medical practice. Reita’s husband also made a successful career as an endocrinologist.
Now 77-year-old, Reita lives happily in Ireland with her husband. They have two daughters and five grandchildren. She
loves to play golf, painting, gardening, and charity work. In 1998, Reita was a judge for the Miss India competition and
returned several times to judge the Miss World competition. For example, she was a judge alongside Demis Roussos at
the 1976 Miss World Final in London, where Cindy Brexpeare was crowned Miss World.
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