After becoming the first Indian to win the Miss Asia Pacific International competition in 1979, Zeenat Aman entered the movie industry through the beauty pageant path. View her unique video and pictures from the occasion.

Zeenat Aman, the most glitzy Bollywood performer to rule through the 1970s, is well-known to all. Unbeknownst to her admirers, Zeenat entered the acting industry at the age of 19, after winning the Miss Asia Pacific International pageant, unlike many of her contemporaries who began performing as children. Years before Tara Forseca and Dia Mirza won the title in 1973 and 2000, she was the first Indian to do it. (Also Read | Zeenat Aman on landing her first movie with Dev Anand: I was smoking a pipe and wearing a skirt.).

Zeenat was given the title of “First Princess” after placing second in the Femina Miss India competition. She later competed in and won the Miss Asia Pacific International pageant in the Philippines. Zeenat, who was stunning in a yellow bikini, then donned the crimson cape and the crown while sporting a bindi on her forehead.