Miss Nepal

History

Ever since the pageant started from 1994, historically the winner of the Miss Nepal pageant represented the Nepal in the Miss Asia Pacific. After 1997, the Hidden Treasures collaborated with Kathmandu Jaycees and formed two pageants of Kathmandu Jacyees Miss Nepal and Hidden Treasures Miss World Nepal. From 1998 onwards, the winner of Miss Nepal has been sent to Miss World contest and the 1st runner up to Miss Asia Pacific. No contest was held in 2001 because of the Nepalese royal massacre.

From 2004, the 2nd runner up has been granted to represent Nepal in the pageant Miss Earth but it changed a year later, to 1st runner up as it had been stopped sending to Miss Asia Pacific. In 2010, the 2nd runner up has started to send to Miss International. Since 2011 onwards; the names of the 3rd runner up and 4th runner up were revealed while announcing the names of the winners on the Coronation Night.

Competition

Since 1994, every year women from age range of 19–25 years old compete on the national pageant of Miss Nepal. In which, 16 contestants are wisely chosen from across the country and they begin on 1-month training & grooming course before the final event in which they participate in lectures, social work, photoshoots, interviews and etiquette lessons. As on the coronation night which lasts up to 3 hours long, all the candidates engage on opening sequence, introduction speech after which the top 10 semi-finalists are chosen who then compete in an interview portion with the judges and evening gown and the 5 finalists are chosen. This is when the final question and answer round is held. At the end, the names of runners-up and winner are announced from live telecast in Nepal Television.

Tasks

Requirements

Requirements for selection of participants of Miss Nepal:

Notable winners and contestants

Controversial contestants

Recent titleholders

The winner of Miss Nepal represents her country at Miss World.

State titles

There is an unofficial formula to determine the states and regions represented in Nepal. The base number of contestants over the last decade has been 19–20, which can be increased or decreased by pageant's management.

Official states (20)

  * Denotes that state has a preliminary pageant – which may or may not still be held – as of 2014 only Biratnagar, Chitwan, Dharan, Itahari, Jhapa and Pokhara held preliminaries.

  ** Denotes that state has been represented through the Miss Purwanchal (Miss Eastern Region) preliminary. Additionally, two states, Chitwan and Pokhara hold their own individual pageants.

Official regions (5)

Biratnagar, Dharan, Itahari and Jhapa are regions of Eastern Region and are titles handed out at the Miss Purwanchal preliminary. As of 1995 Pokhara has its own preliminary.

Together, these 20 regions form the "base" of the Miss Nepal contest. However, at times other regions and territories have been represented. However, many times the pageant has been criticised for having lack of diversity interns of selection of candidates. Due to the reason that many girls from Kathmandu Valley are represented and are consistent in the pageant per year which resulted with the most winners from the Kathmandu Valley. However, since 2013, the pageant has decided to include more candidates from outside the Capital Valley.

Miss World Nepal

After the local franchise for the Miss World pageant in 1997, Miss Nepal have started to send its winner. In 2002, the pageant was held in December which was after the Miss World 2002, hence the Miss Nepal 2002 winner, Malvika Subba missed the opportunity to represent Nepal in the Miss World pageant. On occasion, when the winner does not qualify (due to age) for either contest, a runner-up is sent.

Miss Earth Nepal

The 1st runner-up title of Miss Nepal will be competing at Miss Earth pageant. On occasion, when the winner does not qualify (due to age) for either contest, a candidate is sent.

Miss International Nepal

Before 2010, Miss Nepal International was organised by different company which produced winners that were represented in Miss International beauty pageant. But since 2010, Hidden Treasure bought the franchise to Miss International and now sends delegate (2nd runner-up) from the annual Miss Nepal beauty pageant. On occasion, when the winner does not qualify (due to age) for either contest, a contestant is sent.

Miss Asia Pacific

From 1994 to 1997, the Miss Nepal pageant was held to select the representative of the Nepal to the Miss Asia Pacific Pageant. In 1997, Jharana Bajracharya was crowned as Hidden Treasures Miss World Nepal 1997 winner who was sent to Miss World 1997 and Kathmandu Jaycees Miss Nepal where Neelima Gurung took the crown and went to Miss Asia Pacific 1997. After 1997, Miss Nepal Beauty Pageant started to hold the local franchise for the Miss World Pageant and the 1st runner up was sent to the Miss Asia Pacific contest until 2004. Miss Nepal no longer sends its winners to this pageant anymore. The third title of Miss Nepal will be competing at Miss International. On occasion, when the winner does not qualify (due to age) for either contest, a contestant is sent.

Miss Nepal USA

The first ever Miss Nepal USA was held in July 2001 in Philadelphia. The pageant was organized by American Nepalese Association (ANA) and was held a day before the grand finale of ANA's annual convention.

Miss Nepal USA pageant made a comeback in New York, in August 2011 and was organized by Event Planet Inc.

The aim of these contests is to identify talented young women who can uphold Nepalese pride in an international platform. Since 2014, there has been introduction to new special awards of Miss California Nepal, Miss New York Nepal and Miss Texas Nepal as the winners of regional states which were equivalent to 3rd runner-up spots.

Miss Hong Kong Nepal

Miss Nepal Hong Kong was held since 1998 in favour of giving a platform for Nepalis in Hong Kong women and also to build up their confidence and self-esteem. In 2011, After 6 years the 5th Miss Nepal Hong Kong was held on 3 August 2011. Miss Hong Kong Nepal 2016 is going to be held on 16 September 2016 after three years. 14 contestants have been confirmed.

Overseas Performance in Miss Nepal

The following is a list of overseas contestants who have competed at the Miss Nepal Pageant. Overseas competed from 2005 onwards, every year except 2007.