19 girls, 1 goal Miss Nepal 2007

FROM ISSUE # 135 (March 2007) | IN THIS ISSUE
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The prestigious Miss Nepal event is back after two years. Nineteen young and talented girls from around the country are ready to compete with a lethal combination—beauty and brains. With nearly 300 hopefuls applying, only 75 got a chance to go through the scanner in the preliminary round. Those 75 were further short listed to 25 which was followed by a selection of the top 19.

In the preliminary round, former Miss Nepal winners Malvika Subba and Sweta Singh, board members of Hidden Treasure: Gopal Kakshyapati, Sarad Kumar Shrestha, and Rupesh Pradhan; and president of Kathmandu Jaycees Suman Shrestha tested the participant's general knowledge, verbal ability, confidence and presentation.

The interview took place at the event's official hotel, Hotel Hyatt Regency on 12 February and on 18 February, the top 25 were announced amidst a press conference. Finally, on 23 February, the top 19 who will be making it to the stage were announced.

The sponsors for this year's event are similar to the previous years; however there are some new changes. "This time, viewers can vote for their favourite contestant through SMS, and the highest-voted will be awarded Dabur Vatika My Choice," says Girendra Man Rajbhanshi managing director of the Hidden Treasure.

Votes can be sent to 2722 not only from cell phones but from landlines and UTL phones as well, he informs. Are there any other changes? "Basically it's the same; however, this time, we have a fair amount of time to prepare and send the winner to Miss World," he says. Because of this very reason, the Miss Nepal event wasn't organized last year and Sugarika KC enjoyed the crown for two consecutive years.

Like always, the choreographer of the event is Rachana Gurung Sharma. She has been polishing the contestants of the pageant since 1994, the first year the pageant was held. And like every year, the contestants will also be given classes on personality development, career and media handling, and communications among others.

"They will also be taken to social organizations like Cancer Hospital, Bal Mandir and Maiti Nepal for visits," says Girendra. The selected 19 will be staying in a close-camp for a week from 1-7 April, and the big day for them has been scheduled to 7 April when one lady will be wearing the crown along with many new responsibilities. "She will get a chance to represent the country internationally and nationally and that's a big thing," Girendra says. Miss Nepal 2005 Sugarika KC is conservation ambassador for WWF Nepal and goodwill ambassador for Cancer Hospital. Opportunities like these await Miss Nepal 2007, and let's hope a deserving lady who can prove that beauty with substance isn't a myth and actually make a difference in the country and the society.