Diana Hayden to use prize money to help her family and charity

Monday, November 24 1997

Diana Hayden to use prize money to help her family and charity

AGENCE FRANCE PRESSE

MAHE (SEYCHELLES), Nov 22: Miss India Diana Hayden was named Miss World 1997 in the paradise-like Indian Ocean archipelago of Seychelles on Saturday, beating Miss New Zealand and Miss South Africa.

``I am on top of the world,'' said Diana, a 24-year-old brunette with striking grey-blue eyes, after winning the award.

Diana, settled in Mumbai, also has English blood in her. She quoted the English poet William Yates before a crowd of 1,000 people in the Plantation Club: ``In dreams begin responsibilities''.

A panel of nine judges chose Diana as Miss World. Apart from a crown, Diana also gets $ 1,00,000 and modelling and appearance contracts. And of course, the prestige of being voted the most beautiful woman in the world.

Diana, who stands 1.70 meters tall (5 feet 8 inches) and works in a celebrity management company, said she would use the prize money to help her family and contribute to charities. She added that she became Miss India and then Miss World thanks to a friend who encouraged her to send her photographs to beauty contests.

The Miss World contest proved to be a challenge for Diana. The contestants had to answer questions individually on Friday to assess their communication skills.

The real test was on Saturday. Before a world television audience in 140 countries, a catwalk parade in designer clothes, another parade in swimming costumes and one in evening gowns was held. In the audience was Seychelles President Albert Rene, and in the jury was former President James Mancham.

Diana was one of the 86 young beauties who paraded in swimming costumes and evening gowns on Saturday. Hemant Trivedi, her dress designer, was praised for designing the most beautiful bathing suit in the contest.

Ten women made it to the second stage - representing India, South Africa, New Zealand, Thailand, Britain, the United States, Turkey, Lebanon, Malaysia, and Australia - and five were voted into the final. But Diana emerged as the winner.

The contestants arrived in Seychelles nearly three weeks ago. They hosted picnics for handicapped children, visited schools, attended community masses and even planted trees at a symbolic reforestation ceremony.

Seychelles, 86 coral and granite islands off the Horn of Africa, have a population of just 70,000 people speaking French, English, and Creole. Tourism is the mainstay of the economy.