A future gynecologist from Bombay today began her reign as the first Asian beauty to wear the Miss World crown, but the statuesque young Indian said: “I don’t really want it.”

Reita Faria, a 5 foot 8 inch medical student from Bombay, also was doubtful about what she will do with the 2,500 pounds ($7,000) prize money. 

“I can’t think of anything to buy with it,” said Reita, 23.  “I have always wanted a Mercedes, but I could not take that kind of car back to India.

“My country needs a lot of money and it would be unfair of me.  I want to get back right away to finish my studies and become a doctor.  I entered the contest for fun.  I never expected to win.”

Sloe-eyed Reita is due to take her examinations next April and could become the first international beauty queen to qualify as a doctor during her reign. 

Reita, a shapely 35-24-35 with brown eyes and flashing teeth, carried off the top prize with a regal air that had the British audience stamping approval.  She is engaged to marry a tea planter next June

Miss Yugoslavia, Nikica Marinovic, a fisherman’s daughter from Dalmatia, finished second in the competition.  Nickica, a captivating blonde (36-24-36), was the first competitor to enter the contest from a Communist country.

Third out of the 51 competitors was Miss Greece, Efi Plumbi, 21.  Miss Brazil, Marluci Manvailer, 18, was fourth and Miss Italy, a 23-year-old named Gigliola Carbonara, was fifth.

The other two finalists were Denice Blair, 19, of the U.S.A. (Utah), and Birgit Andersen, 20, of Norway.

It was one of the nicest, quietest Miss World contests on record.

Nobody pulled anybody’s hair.  The only tears shed were those of relief or friendly emotion.

MISS WORLD 1966

1966 November 17
London, England
51 entries

Results
1  India  Reita Faria
2  Yugoslavia  Nikica Marinovic
3  Greece  Efi Fontini Ploumbi
4  Brazil  Marlucci Manvailler Rocha
5  Italy  Gigliola Carbonara

Finalists
6  Norway  Birgit Andersen (4th RU Scandinavia '67)
7  U.S.A.  Denice Estelle Blair

Semi-finalists
Argentina  Graciela Guardone
Canada  Diane Coulter
Dominican Republic  Jeanette Dotel Montes de Ocoa (1st RU Sugar Cane '66)
France  Michèle Boulé (Universe '66)
Germany  Jutta Danske
Guyana  Umblita Van Sluytman (Universe '66)
South Africa  Johanna Maud Carter
United Kingdom  Jennifer Lowe Summers (SF Universe-England '68, Europe-England '68)

Remainder
Aruba  Reina Patricia Hernandez
Bahamas  Dorothy Cooper
Belgium  Mireille De Man (Europe '66, Universe '66)
Ceylon  Priscilla Martenstyn
Chile  Amelia Galaz
Costa Rica  Sonia Mora
Cyprus  Annoula Aivaliotou
Denmark  Irene Poller Hansen (Scandinavia '67)
Ecuador  Alexandra Vallejo Klaere 
Finland  Marita Gellman (Scandinavia '67)
Gambia  Oumie Barry
Gibraltar  Grace Valverde
Holland  Anneke Geerts
Honduras  Danira Miralda Buines
Iceland  Audur Hardardóttir 
Ireland  Helen McMahon
Israel  Segula Gohr
Jamaica  Yvonne Walter
Japan  Harumi Kobayashi
Jordan  Vera Jalil Khamis
Korea  Chung Eul-sun
Lebanon  Marlene Talih
Luxembourg  Mariette Sophie Stephano (Universe '64)
Malaysia  Merlyn Therese McKelvie
Malta  Monica Sunnura
Mexico  Maria Cecilia González Du Pree (Queen of the Pacific '68)
Morocco  Naima Naim
New Zealand  Heather Gettings (Universe '66, Queen of the Pacific '67)
Philippines  Vivien Lee Austria
Surinam  Linda Haselhoef
Sweden  Gunilla Ingrid Anna Andersson (Europe '66)
Switzerland  Jacine Soellner
Syria  Firial Jalal
Trinidad & Tobago  Diane DeFreitas
Turkey  Inci Asena
Venezuela  Jeanette Kopp Arenas

Did not compete
Austria
Colombia  Maria Estela Sáenz Calero
Nicaragua
Paraguay
Spain  Paquita Torres Pérez (Universe '66, winner Europe '67) (withdrew because Miss Gibraltar was in pageant)
Uruguay  Susana Regeden

Disqualified
Nigeria  Uzor Okafor (married to a Briton & a mother of two, was not nationally crowned)

Replaced
Ceylon  Lorraine Roosmalecocq (Universe 66)