Dr. Reita Faria, maynot be a well-known personality but she created history for India much before many of us were born. Her victory continues to inspire Indians and women around the country which wasn’t easy or paid for by sponsors. Read her quick biography and take inspiration from her life:
1. Reita Faria was the first Indian and Asian to win the title
In 1966, Reita Faria made history by becoming the first Indian (& Asian) woman to win the Miss World title. Her victory shattered stereotypes around the world and showcased that Indians and especially Indian women can excel on global platforms. Her achievement continues to inspire Indians, proving that we can win against all odds.
2. Instead of the glamour world she opted for service
Unlike many beauty pageant winners who become actors or models to earn big, Reita chose a different path. She rejected lucrative Bollywood & Hollywood offers and went back to her original passion – medical. Yes, she bunked college for the contest (more on that later). Her commitment to become a doctor exemplify her true beauty – inside and out.
3. Reita Faria is first Miss World winner with a medical degree
Yes, though she bunked college to win the competition but she didn’t miss education. She completed her M.B.B.S. at Grant Medical College & Sir J. J. Group of Hospitals in Mumbai. Later, she continued her education at King’s College Hospital in London. As expected once you reach a global stage – things aren’t easy when you’ve all the limelight of the world. But her dedication to medicine shows the clarity of her mind.
4. She was teased and bullied for her looks
Standing at 5 feet 8 inches, she was a tall student of the class. No wonder she was teased as “mommy long legs,” even though embarrassed it didn’t stop her from excelling in sports, especially hockey. This confidence probably won her the title of Miss World without much training.
See, she was a complete amateur and wasn’t even trained for the beauty competition. There was no grooming, no dental works, no false eyelashes. In fact, when it was discovered that she had borrowed her swimsuit, organizers weren’t happy.
5. You can win even if you don’t have resources
Winning Miss Bombay was a quick deal – the competition was local. Nobody knew about it. But going for the Miss World championship – with borrowed clothes was a completely different challenge. Without any guidance or training she was up against some of the well-trained wealthy opponents. But she displayed confidence and decided to have fun.
It took almost three decades and Aishwarya Rai to win another Miss World title
Balance personal and professional life
After her reign as Miss World, she married her mentor, David Powell, in 1971. Despite her global fame, she never allowed it to go over her head and prioritized medical career. She moved to Dublin, Ireland, where she established her practice. And took a break from career to take care of her two kids.
Like Reita Faria’s journey to the Miss World stage – you’ll face situations where you would want to give up your goal of a dream job because of lack of {fill in the blanks}. Just take inspiration from this story break barriers and contribute meaningfully to society.
