KATHMANDU: The whole world of a college going girl gets upside down when she comes to know that in the influence of alcohol, she just spend a night with an HIV positive man.

The agony and tragedy of this story was presented by Neha Paudel in the form of shadow by staying behind a screen.

This five-minute act of Paudel was part of the Talent Show of Lux Hidden Treasure Miss Nepal 2011, which was held on August 26 at the Russian Culture Centre, Kamaladi.

In front of five judges — President of Kathmandu Jaycees, Ratna K Shrestha; Dance Director of Nepal Academy, Shree Hari Shrestha; Artist Milan Rai; Musician Alok Shree and Fashion Journalist Jayan Subba Manandhar, 19 contestants of Miss Nepal 2011 presented their talent at different forms of art in just five minutes.

One after another the contestants came on the stage and the judges got to witness powerful speeches on topics like environment and youth along with paintings, singing abilities and varieties of dance forms like Manjushree, Newari dance, contemporary and freestyle. Every girl had put her best foot forward to win the title of Miss Talent.

“They are not professionals at these forms of art yet they did their best and some were impressive,” one of the judges Rai summed up his take on the whole show. The contestants were judged on confidence, topic selected, stage presence.

Another judge Manandhar mentioned that the HIV story by Paudel, speech by Anupama Aura Gurung and Bishnu Chemjong’s singing impressed her most out of all.

“The contestants did a great job. It is not easy to come on stage and to show your talent. And I salute them for having the courage to do so,” said Miss Nepal 2010 Sadichha Shrestha. She also shared that being in that hall watching the talent show brought back memories of her own competition last year. “These contestants have improved a lot through the training. They look beautiful and they have gained ta lot of confidence to face the audience.” she mentioned.

The winner of Miss Talent will win cash prize of Rs 10,000 but to know whose talent impressed the judges most, one has to wait for the grand finale which is going to take place on August 30 at Army Officers’ Club. Annapurna Post is the official media of the event while THT Live is the official voting partner.