I've done several Hubs on the women of Bollywood, and a lot of those women first gained national exposure in India's premier beauty pageant, Miss India or Pantaloons Femina Miss India.
Of course not every winner of Femina Miss India goes on to become a model or actress, but the fame and recognition doesn't hurt either career.
So here are notable winners and contestants from the past......

Indrani Rahman (Miss India World 1952)
Indrani is credited with bringing the classical Indian dancing styles of Bharatanatyam, Kuchipudi, Kathakali and Odissi to the West.
For this to be important, you have to realize that these forms are not just "dancing" like we have here in the West, these dances are part of India's cultural background.

Leela Naidu (Miss India World 1954)
Leela was a classic beauty. So much so that the fashion and lifestyle magazine Vogue once called her one of the five most beautiful women in the world.
After the Femina Miss India pageant, she became an actress in Bollywood.

Fleur Ezekiel (Miss India Asia - Pacific 1959)
Although she didn't win the title, Fleur brought India worldwide attention by being the first Indian to participate in the Miss World pageant.

Persis Khambatta (Miss India Universe 1965)
Indian model, actress, and author Persis Khambatta won the Miss India Universe in 1965.
She never achieved real success in Bollywood or other Indian movie industries, but if you are a sci-fi fan, you will remember her as Lieutenant Ilia in 1979's Star Trek: The Motion Picture.
Persis was also the Indian citizen to present an Academy Award (1979).

Reita Faria (Miss India World 1966)
Reita was the first Indian to win the Miss World title (1966).
She didn't go into acting or modeling, but became a doctor.

Zeenat Aman (Miss India Asia - Pacific 1970)
Zeenat Aman won the Miss India Asia - Pacific in 1970, and did go on to become a successful actress and went on to appear in over seventy films, all the way up to 2007 film, Sirf Romance: Love by Chance.

Prema Narayan (Miss India World 1971)
Prema Narayan started out as a teacher at a convent school and did some modeling on the side. After winning the title, she became an actress and appeared in over seventy movies from 1974 to 1995.

Nafisa Ali (Miss India International 1976)
Actress and social activist Nafisa Ali won the Miss India International in 1976.
She is not only an actress, but she was the national swimming champion from 1972-1974, and a jockey at the Calcutta Gymkhana (Equestrian games).
Nafisa appeared in Bollywood films and at least one Malayalam film.

Swaroop Sampat (Miss India Asia - Pacific 1979)
After Swaroop Sampat won the Miss India Asia - Pacific title in 1979, she launched a career as an actress in Bollywood films.
But her most popular role was on a successful Indian comedy TV series, Yeh Jo Hai Zindagi.

Sangeeta Bijlani (Miss India Universe 1980)
Sangeeta Bijlani this former Bollywood actress and former model never really achieved much fame for her acting, but was noted for her dance numbers.
She did appear in the very successful Tridev in 1989.

Meenakshi Seshadri (Miss India World 1981)
After winning the Miss India World 1981 at the age of eighteen, Meenakshi Seshadri began her Bollywood career the next year in the 1982 film Painter Babu.
She appeared in over eighty films till she retired.
Meenakshi now teaches classical Indian dance in the US.

Pamella Bordes (Miss India Universe 1982)
Pamella didn't go into acting after winning her title, but into photography.
She has had photos published in the French photography magazine Photo, Newsweek and Marie Claire.
Pamella hit the headlines in the UK in 1988 when she was involved in a scandal.

Juhi Chawla (Miss India Universe 1984 and Miss India World 1985)
Award winning Indian actress, film producer and television presenter Juhi Chawla not only won the Miss India Universe title in 1984, but turned right around and won the Miss India World title in  1985.
After winning her titles, Juhi embarked on a career in Bollywood that saw her appear in over seventy films.

Sonu Walia (Miss India Universe 1985)
While Juhi Chawla won the Miss India World title in 1985, Sonu Walia won the Miss India Universe title the same year.
And like Juhi, Sonu launched a film career that saw her appear in over thirty movies, starting with Shart in 1986.

Again I seem to be having trouble uploading pictures to the Hubs.
If you dont see all of them, let me know.