Diana Hayden

Diana Hayden was born on May 1, 1973, in Hyderabad, Telangana, India, into an Anglo-Indian family. She attended St. Ann's High School in Secunderabad, though her early life was marked by her parents' separation, which led her to begin working at the age of 13 to support herself. Despite these early challenges, she continued her education through open schooling and correspondence, eventually graduating with a degree in English from Osmania University. Before entering the world of pageantry, she worked for an event management company called Encore and later served as a Public Relations Officer at BMG Crescendo, where she managed the careers of popular singers like Anaida and Mehnaz Hoosein.

Her career reached international heights in 1997 when she was crowned Femina Miss India World and subsequently won the Miss World title in Baie Lazare, Seychelles. She made history during the competition by becoming the only Miss World titleholder to win three additional subtitles: Miss Photogenic, Miss Spectacular Swimwear, and Miss World – Asia and Oceania. Following her reign, she moved to London to study acting at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art and Drama Studio London, where her focus on Shakespearean works earned her a Best Actress nomination from the studio. She made her screen debut in 2001 in a South African film adaptation of Othello and went on to appear in Indian films such as Tehzeeb (2003) and Ab Bas! (2004).

In addition to her film work, Diana Hayden has had a significant presence on television. She hosted the show Biography with Diana Hayden on The History Channel and served as a host for major international events like Miss Europe and the Laureus World Sports Awards. In 2008, she gained further public visibility as a wild card contestant on the second season of the Indian reality show Bigg Boss, where she remained until the 13th week. Beyond entertainment, she authored a grooming and personality development book titled A Beautiful Truth, published in 2012, which she spent over two years researching and designing.

In her more recent professional life, she has been a celebrity guest lecturer for airline personnel training programs and continues to be an active motivational speaker. She remains an influential figure in the digital space and philanthropy, serving as a goodwill ambassador for organizations such as Heal-a-Child and supporting causes related to breast cancer awareness and HIV/AIDS education. Married to American businessman Collin Dick since 2013, she is also known for being an advocate for women's health, famously sharing her personal experience with egg freezing, which allowed her to welcome her children at a later age.