Pradhan was then a United Nations Peace Ambassador for a year. After working in Japan for Chiyobi Sirene, Priyadarshini returned to India to work as a model. She appeared in advertising campaigns for Bombay Dyeing, Camay, Rexona, Britannia, Gold Spot, Ericsson, Marlboro, Sunsilk, Carrera Watches, J Hampstead and De Beers.
She has featured in books such as Persis Khambatta"s "Pride of India" and Bidapa and Noorani"s "Catwalk Cuisine".
She won the Best National Costume Award and the Best Asian contestant (Press) at the Mission Universe competition. Later she won India World Mission University 1989. She is the first Indian woman to win the crown. Pradhan competed in the Mission World University pageant in 1989, held in Japan, winning the crown after winning the Mission Photogenic and Mission Friendship titles. She has appeared in music videos such as "Guzare Zamane", "Mission India" and "Once Upon a Time" and in television programmes for the British Broadcasting Corporation, Canale5 (Italy), Nippon Hōsō Kyōkai (Japan), Session Border Controllers (Singapore), MBC (Mauritius), EDT (Dubai), TBV (Hong Kong), Korean Broadcasting System (South of Korea).
