In 1966 the annual national beauty pageant was formed in Iran by vision of choosing a winner among all participants with the title of “Dokhtareh Shayesteh Iran” (Worthy Girl of Iran). The winner was chosen by a committee of editors and cultural figures associated with the sponsoring magazine, Zan‑e Rooz. Reader votes were solicited, but ultimately the editorial committee, led by Homa Ehsan, made the final selection.

In 1966, Mitra Nikanpour, a 17-year-old, was selected and crowned as the first “Dokhtareh Shayesteh Iran” (Worthy Girl of Iran), marking a significant shift in how the pageant was managed during that period. A few months later Zan‑e Rooz magazine announced that their winner would participate in the Miss International Teen Princess pageant, held for the first time in Chicago, United States and Mitra Nikanpour went on to represent Iran in the international competition.

This event was the inaugural edition of the Miss International Teen Princess pageant, establishing a new international platform for young contestants. Following her selection as Worthy Girl of Iran 1966, Mitra represented the title in various social capacities, including meetings with the wives of diplomats in Tehran, reflecting the broader cultural and public role associated with the crown in Pahlavi era.