Iran, formerly known as Persia, is home to one of the world’s oldest continuous civilizations, with historical and urban settlements dating back to 7000 BCE. In ancient times, women held notable positions as queens, warriors, administrators, and laborers. However, following the Arab conquest and the introduction of Islam to the region, women’s roles became increasingly confined to domestic responsibilities, with more limited participation in public life.

This subject continued, till after the Qajar dynasty and into the early 20th century, Iranian women gradually began emerging from seclusion, engaging in education and community activities. In 1957, the Ettelā’āt publishing group launched Ettelā’āt-e Bānuvān, a women’s weekly magazine covering lifestyle, celebrity news, beauty, and home decoration. The magazine introduced Iran’s first regional beauty contest, Dokhtar-e Khoshfekr Iran. Later, in 1965, Zan-e Rooz magazine was established by the Kayhan publishing institute and quickly became Iran’s most popular women’s weekly. The magazine launched the national Miss Iran pageant, organizing nationwide contests with public voting.

The first Iran’s beauty pageant title went to 20-year-old Sima Izadjou, crowned Dokhtar-e Bahar (“Daughter of Spring”) in 1965. Her win marked a milestone in pre-revolutionary Iranian culture. Sima later worked as a flight attendant for Iran Air and pursued modeling, reflecting the expanding opportunities for women during this period.