2000 is an unforgettable year for those who love beauties from India. In this year, Lara Dutta was crowned Miss Universe, Priyanka Chopra was crowned Miss World and Dia Mirza was crowned Miss Asia Pacific. This is considered a “unique” event in the history of the biggest beauty contests on the planet.
Lara Dutta was the number one winner in the Miss India 2000 pageant so she represented her country in the Miss Universe pageant. Priyanka Chopra was in 2nd place – competed in Miss World and Dia Mirza ranked 3rd, was nominated to compete in Miss Asia Pacific.
All three of the most beautiful Indians in 2000 won the highest positions at the largest beauty contests on the planet and helped India quickly become a “beauty powerhouse” globally.
From left: Miss World Priyanka Chopra, Miss Universe Lara Dutta and Miss Asia Pacific Dia Mirza
Lara Dutta, born in 1978, was crowned Miss Intercontinental 1997. Then, in 2000, she participated in the Miss India contest, won the top prize and represented India in the Miss Universe contest. The beauty surpassed 78 Misses from other countries to win the most noble title. Lara Dutta is the second beauty from India to be crowned Miss Universe.
Lara Dutta
After becoming Miss Universe, Lara Dutta developed a career as an actress and she is often regarded as one of the most stylish and socially conscious actresses in Bollywood. She is also known for her eloquent speaking skills, a strong supporter of the Me Too movement in India, calling for gender equality, advocating feminism…
Lara Dutta has served as the award show host of the International Indian Film Academy 5 times. She was a judge on the reality TV show High Fever. Lara Dutta also mentors Miss Diva contestants and recently launched her own beauty line called Arias, which is a vegan beauty line.
In September 2010, she became engaged to Indian tennis player, Mahesh Bhupathi. They married on February 16, 2011 in a ceremony in Bandra. In August 2011, Dutta confirmed that she was pregnant with their first child. Miss gave birth to daughter Saira Bhupathi in January 2012.
Dia Mirza was the 2nd runner-up at the Miss India pageant in 2000. She was then sent to compete in Miss Asia Pacific and won the top prize. In the same contest, the beauty born in 1981 also won many other minor awards.
After becoming Miss Asia Pacific, Dia Mirza also has many opportunities to develop her modeling and acting career in her home country. The beauty with a lovely smile used to be a familiar advertising face to the audience on television. She participated in many films as an actress and producer.
Miss Asia Pacific has been married twice. Dia Mirza first married a businessman in 2014 and split in 2019. On February 15, 2021, Mirza married businessman Vaibhav Rekhi in Bandra, Mumbai, India. The 40-year-old Miss is currently expecting her first child.
Dia Mirza
In an interview with The Times of India, Dia revealed that the contestants knew that Lara would become the top winner at the Miss India 2000 pageant. Dia Mirza said, “That year’s Miss pageant. there are the most amazing girls. Each of them has their mark. We all know that Lara Dutta will win. She is the most popular. She is more experienced than anyone. any of us”.
20 years after winning the Miss Asia Pacific pageant, Dia shared emotionally: “I can’t believe it’s been 20 years since the evening that I won the title of Miss Asia Pacific. Ocean for India! I am very grateful to everyone who has contributed to my growth.”
Priyanka Chopra was helped by her mother to register for the Miss India contest in 2000. At that time, the beauty was 18 years old and had just returned from the US to India after studying abroad. Priyanka won second place in the Miss India pageant and represented India in the Miss World pageant.
Miss World 2000 pageant took place in England with the participation of 95 most beautiful girls. Priyanka Chopra won the highest title and became the 5th Indian beauty to win this noble title.
Priyanka Chopra
After becoming Miss World, Priyanka Chopra’s life took a new turn. She not only became a famous Indian singer and actress, but now she is also a Hollywood star. Priyanka Chopra made a big impression with the long-running TV series Quantico and is one of the most famous Asian stars in America today.
Miss World Priyanka Chopra married her 10-year-old husband Nick Jonas at the end of 2018, after only a few months of dating. The couple held lavish weddings both in India and the US. Priyanka Chopra is enjoying a fulfilling marriage and the 39-year-old beauty shared that she is not in a hurry to have children because she and her husband want to spend more time together.
