Diya Mirza Miss Asia Pacific 2000

Biography

Women from India achieved a rare triple when Diya Mirza of Hyderabad won the Miss Asia Pacific 2000 title, making a clean sweep of the top three beauty pageants in the world in a single calendar year. At 18, a quiet, 5'6" tall, introverted girl entered the Femina Miss India Contest to have some fun. She walked away with 3 titles.

Diya,a versatile personality, inherited her enchanting eyes from her Bengali mother and her complexion and colour of hair to her German father. Dee (her nickname) is also a very philosophical person, maybe because she has seen so much at such a young age. Her parents separated when she was just six.The strongest influence in her life has been her mother, who has been like a friend, philosopher and guide.

As a career move, the Hyderabad girl shifted to Mumbai, away from home and family. Compromises have been difficult, but necessary. And now Mirza who won over a lot of hearts with her poise is poised to take on Bollywood with elan.

She was introverted and unhappy as a child, and it was her parents, especially her mom, who instilled self-confidence and assisted her to break free from the barriers of low self-esteem.

At the age of 16, after completing her 10th standard, she got a job with Sriven Multi-Tech in Hyderabad. This job paved her way to modeling assignments with Lipton, Emami amongst others. With this exposure she was encouraged to participate in the 2000 Femina Miss India Beauty Pageant, which she did, came up the second runner-up and won three titles namely Femina Miss India-Pacific, Sony Viewer's Choice Award, and Miss Beautiful Smile. She went on to be crowned Miss Asia-Pacific on December 2, 2000 at Manila, making her the second Indian to win this award after a gap of 29 years.

Dia wanted to complete her graduation in Arts by correspondence, but decided to postpone it as it was becoming difficult to juggle between the Miss Asia Pacific Competition, modeling assignments, traveling and training. She was assisted by Sabira Merchant on diction and etiquette; diet with Anjali Mukherjee; gymnasium and physical fitness with Talwalkars; clothes from Ritu Kumar and Hemant Trivedi; skin care with Dr. Jamuna Pai; and make-up and hair-care from Bharat and Doris Godambe.

Dia made her debut on the tinsel screen with 'Rehnaa Hai Terre Dil Mein' during 2001, and thus was able to launch her career as an actress. Her second movie was Deewanapan with Arjun Rampal. She had only one release in 2002 Tumko Na Bhool Payenge. In Tehzeeb (2003), she played a mentally challenged girl opposite Shabana Azmi and Urmila Matondkar. Dum (2003), Tumsa Nahin Dekha (2004) were other releases that didn?t really get the audience to flock theaters.

2004 to 2008 She reprised the role of Gayatri Tantya in the hit Parineeta (2004). Dus (2004), Blackmail(2004), Fight Club(2006) and Alag (2006) were her other releases. She appeared in a song in the comedy Phir Hera Pheri (2006) and as Simran in the hit sequel Lage Raho Munnabhai (2006). In 2007, she had some success with movies like Honeymoon Travels Pvt Ltd, Shootout at Lokhandwala and Heyy Babyy. Krazzy 4 (2008) did badly.

2009 Dia Mirza?s movies are Fruit & Nuts, Aankh Micholi, Bits & Pieces and she will also be part of a reality game show Kaho Naa Yaar Hai.