| Reita Faria, an Indian physician turned model, made history as the first Asian to win the Miss World title in 1966. |
| She grew up in a middle-class family with her father working in a mineral water factory and her mother owning a salon, along with an elder sister named Philomena. |
| During her school years, Reita Faria was known for her strong determination to become a doctor. |
| Aside from excelling academically, she was admired for her fashion sense by friends like Cecilia Menezes. |
| She attended St. Joseph’s Convent School in Mumbai before pursuing her M.B.B.S. at Grant Medical College & Sir J.J. Group of Hospitals. |
| Her pageant journey began unexpectedly with Miss Bombay 1966 and then Eve’s Weekly Miss India 1966. |
| Reita represented India at Miss World 1966, where she had to improvise her wardrobe due to her height. |
| At the age of 23, she won the Miss World 1966 title, triumphing over 50 contestants from around the world. |
| Reita Faria also received the "Best Swimsuit" and "Best Eveningwear" awards during the pageant; she wore a traditional saree for the eveningwear round. |
| During her Miss World reign, she conducted social work and faced controversy during her visit to Vietnam with Bob Hope during the war. |
| After declining offers in Bollywood and modeling, she pursued further medical studies at King’s College Hospital, London. |
| Reita served as a judge at various pageants, including Miss World 1976 and Femina Miss India 1998. |
| Following her marriage to David Powell, she relocated to Dublin, Ireland and has since had two daughters and five grandchildren. |
