KATHMANDU, SEP 22: For the first time in history, Nepal will take part in Miss Universe beauty pageant. Nagma Shrestha will be the first beauty queen to represent the country at the prestigious international pageant.
Shrestha was crowned Miss Nepal Universe during the gala 23rd anniversary of Miss Nepal, held at Hotel Annapurna in Kathmandu on Friday. The Hidden Treasure has bagged the franchise rights for the Miss Universe in Nepal. The organization formed in 1994, that has been organizing the most coveted national pageant ‘Miss Nepal’ annually, also holds the franchise rights for the Miss World, Miss Earth, Miss International and Miss Asia Pacific World.
While the representatives for Miss World (Nikita Chandak), Miss Earth (Rojina Shrestha), Miss International (Niti Shah) and Miss Aisa Pacific World (Sahara Basnet) were selected during the finale of Miss Nepal pageant in June this year; the representative for the Miss Universe pageant was announced today.
Nagma Shrestha, who has quite an impressive history with beauty pageants, had bagged the title of Miss Nepal Earth in 2012; and represented Nepal at Miss Earth 2012 in the Philippines. As she reached the top 8, she had become the first Nepali delegate to reach the finals of an international pageant. In 2016, she represented Nepal at Miss University in China where she bagged the 3rd runner up position. Later that year, she also took part at Miss Eco Universe 2016 in Egypt where she won the award for the Best Tourism Video.
The 25-year-old from Kathmandu is also a successful model and a television host. Equally interested and involved in social works, she is the goodwill ambassador of Childreach Nepal and Ujyalo Foundation. She stands 5’11”.
The 66th edition of Miss Universe 2017 is scheduled to take place in November in Las Vegas. The reigning Miss Universe, Iris Mittenaere of France, will crown her successor in the finale on November 26th.
With this, Nepal will now be participating in all of the ‘BIG FOUR’ pageants — Miss Universe, Miss World, Miss Earth and Miss International. The Miss Nepal pageant will most probably have five title winners from next year. Now the question is, will the main winner or any of the runners up will represent Nepal at Miss Universe; as the pageant headquartered in New York is considered to have an equal status as the Miss World pageant. As of now, the main winner of Miss Nepal pageant represents the country at Miss World, the first runner up at Miss Earth, the second runner up at Miss International and the third runner up at Miss Asia Pacific World. Well, we’ll have to wait to see.
For the time being, we are more than excited for Nepal’s first ever participation at Miss Universe and we’re glad Nagma Shrestha will be representing us.
