At the age of 16 she was working as a marketing executive at sriven Mult-tech in Hyderabad. She earned a monthly salary of Rs 5000, with a 15 per cent commision on every ad revenue She fetched for the company. She has done an advertising campaign which appeared in femina. After the pictures came out she was encouraged to participate in the Miss India competition. Thats when Miss India happned. She walked away with 3 titles Miss Beautiful Smile, The Sony Viewer's Choice Award and Femina Miss India-Asia Pacific.

Diya Mirza won the prestigious Miss Asia Pacific title at the beauty pageant held on 2 December, 2000, in Manila. She is the second Indian contestant to be crowned Miss Asia Pacific and the first in 29 years.

Her first film, opposite Madhavan Rehaana Hai Tere Dil Mein did not make a big splash. But it spelt one thing - Diya Mirza had arrived.

She is also independent and armed with a mind of her own. And with everyone’s confidence and encouragement egging on her, Diya has a good chance of bagging a crown India hasn’t won in 25 years.