It was recently announced by Miss Universe Nepal organization that that the coronation of the next representative of Nepal at Miss Universe i.e., at Miss Universe 2020 stage will be held virtually keeping the social distancing and the proper safety of the people involved in mind. Miss Nepal Universe 2017 Nagma Shrestha is the new national director of Miss Universe Nepal and had informed Ma Nepali that Miss Universe Nepal 2020 app is being developed and will be available in the app store and Google play store by mid-July.
The queen also mentioned that the delegates will be selected via application itself and the divas will have to register themselves from the same app. After the registration and selection, the diva will go through online training and workshops for the pageant while the finale even will also be live-streamed.
One of the names that has caught our attention for the title is Surabhi Khanal. She is 21-years-old and stands 168 cm tall. She is currently pursuing her degree in Chemistry at Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA. She is very passionate and dedicated towards representing her country at international stage. She is also an activist, poet and TV anchor who shows immense potential to represent Nepal at Miss Universe 2020 stage.
Surabhi is not new to the pageantry as she was crowned Miss Nepal US 2019 along with bagging awards for Miss Photogenic and Beauty without Limit at the end of the event finale. She was highly appreciated for her performance at the competition not only by the judges but also the audience and her competitors. During her stint at Miss Nepal US 2019, Surabhi worked on her initiative and plans to continue her advocacy with higher platforms like Miss Universe. Surabhi and her team works closely with the low-caste populations of Nepal, where a child’s future can be restricted due to societal oppression limiting their opportunities.
A few weeks before the diva was crowned Miss Nepal US 2019, she was recognized as a Forbes 30 under 30 scholar for her work with her nonprofit. With her interest in entrepreneurship, she aspires to find an intersection between science and business where she wants to work as chemist and pursue her own entrepreneurial ideas.
In order to raise attention to more causes, she hosts a segment as Miss Nepal US titled, “Social Justice with Surabhi”, to allow her local community, in the DMV Metropolitan Area, USA, to highlight issues they see as relevant and important. Surabhi has been working tirelessly to raise awareness about anti-trafficking, remote health clinics since 2016. The diva has been trying to educate people in her community about human trafficking and Miss Universe’s platform would be a perfect opportunity for her to widen her reach. She is also the founder of the ‘Save Our Stars Foundation’ with their ‘MedLove Project’; a clinic that caters to a remote area and provides primary healthcare services and educational programs for underprivileged women in Samgha, Tanahun, Nepal.
Even in tough times of covid19, the diva hasn’t stopped working towards her advocacy and tries to help who ever needs her. With her segment, “Social Justice with Surabhi”, the diva has covered issues like the Black Lives Matter Movement, Awareness for Animal Abuse, PCOS & Endometriosis, and the caste system in Nepal. Each segment reaches a viewership of 6.2 million and airs on FOX 5 PLUS- the first Saturday, at noon (EST), of every month.
Surabhi has spent her quarantine time working on her poetry and aspires to publish a book by the end of the year. She is positive, strong, confident, and very determined to use the platform to change something in society. She aspires to be a role model that everyone is proud of and when she looks back to her journey, she feels proud too. She has always expressed her gratitude for the opportunities she has received till date because she believes that they have helped her to be who she is today and molded her into a strong and confident woman. She also thanks her family and friends for being supportive and motivated towards her dreams and ambitions.
With her experience, strong performance, and dedication, Surabhi can be a strong contender for the title of Miss Universe Nepal 2020 if she decides to participate. If she wins, she can be a strong delegate at Miss Universe 2020 stage. She is preparing herself for the future endeavors which includes, walk-on stage, body angles, body postures, communication, and interview skills.