Nepal has always been enthusiastic about its participation in beauty pageants around the world. Be it the renowned Miss World or the other international pageants, the ambassadors from Nepal always manage to catch on some recognition, but hardly of the judges. The low profile of these gorgeous Misses lead us to analyse why their performance has not been that popular at international beauty pageants year after year, even after their utmost hard work, determination, focus, and dedication.
What surprises us the most is that not just the past few years, since the beginning of the history of beauty pageants, Nepal has remained out of focus when it comes to the winners. Although, many contestants have found their way up to the runner up positions in the past, there has been no winner from Nepal till date at any of the internationally esteemed and celebrated Big 4 pageants of the world. Taking in account the performance of this country, which is known for its culturally extravagant heritage, amazingly rich history, and natural beauty, it is shocking why the Misses from Nepal are not able to mark their way up to the Winner position.
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The representatives of international beauty pageants from Nepal are sent through the national beauty contest, named Miss Nepal. This is the biggest national pageant which is not only responsible for sending its winner to the Miss World but also to other pageants. The first runner up represents the country at the Miss Earth pageant while the second runner up competes for the Miss International crown. Unfortunately, the top three beauties of the national pageant are not able to stand up to their international competitors, the delegates from other countries.
As far as Miss Nepal 2016 is concerned the reigning queen is Asmi Shrestha who represented the country at Miss World 2016 which was recently held. The 23 year old did find a position at the Beauty with a Purpose competition where she was placed as one of the Top 5 contestants. The 5 ft 8 in tall beauty from Tandi competed with 116 contestants at the finals of the 66th edition of Miss World, on 18 December 2016, held at the MGM National Harbor, Oxon Hill, Maryland, U.S.A. Though the country had high hopes with the beauties, all expectations were doomed much before the Miss World 2016 Mireia Lalaguna of Spain crowned her successor Stephanie Del Valle of Puerto Rico, as Nepal was nowhere to be seen when the semi finalists were announced.
The first runner up at Miss Nepal 2016, 20 years of age Roshni Khatri, participated at the 16th Miss Earth pageant, was held on 29 October 2016 at the Mall of Asia Arena, Pasay City, Metro Manila, Philippines. Miss Nepal Earth 2016 was one of the 83 candidates at the finals where Miss Earth 2015 Angelia Ong of the Philippines crowned Katherine Elizabeth Espín of Ecuador. Though the pretty and 5 ft 9 in tall delegate from Lalitpur, couldn’t come forward as the winer, she still completed the pageant victoriously by bagging the Second position( silver medal) for the Group 2 Resorts Wear Competition of the Miss Earth 2016 pageant.
Nepal’s representative at the Miss International 2016 beauty pageant was Barsha Lekhi. The 23 years old, 5 ft 7 in tall Barsha participated at the 56th Miss International ppageant finals held on October 27, 2016 at the Tokyo Dome City Hall in Tokyo, Japan. The beauty who hails from the Saptari District of Nepal saw before her the coronation of the Philippines’ Kylie Verzosa by Miss International 2015, Edymar Martínez of Venezuela, and though all her dreams came to an end in those final moments, the gorgeous Barsha did leave a deep love for herself in the hearts of her Nepali fans.
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The country, besides sending representatives to these top beauty pageants of the world, also sends ambassadors to other less known global pageants such as Miss Grand International, Miss Tourism Queen International, Miss Globe International, Miss Heritage and Miss Asia Pacific World. Stunning beauty, Zeenus Lama bagged the title of Miss Grand Nepal 2016 on August 23rd at Hyatt Regency in Kathmandu, but could not participate at the Miss Grand International 2016 pageant, due to Visa Problems.
This year, Nepal also debuted at the 8th edition of the popular Miss Supranational pageant. The finals which took place on 02 December’ 2016 at the Municipal Sports and Recreation Center of Krynica-Zdroj , Poland. Mesmerising 24 year old Pooja Shrestha of Kathmandu competed with 70 delegates from countries all over the world for the title of Miss Supranational 2016, which was finally claimed by Nepal’s neighbouring country’s delegate, Srinidhi Shetty of India.
Year after year, the country has been blowing its chance at the victory. Though the candidates are no less than that of other countries, there is definitely something which they lack. What that is, the country and its beauties have to figure it themselves...