Nepal

Asmi Shrestha crowned Miss Nepal 2016

Asmi Shrestha crowned Miss Nepal 2016

By MAUSAM SHAH

Miss Nepal 2015 Evana Manandhar handing over the crown to the 21st Miss Nepal Asmi Shrestha in the grand finale at Hotel de l'Annapurana in Kathmandu on Friday, April 8, 2016. Photo: Naresh Shrestha/THT

KATHMANDU: Asmi Shrestha won the title of Miss Nepal  2016 as she overcame other 18 contestants at the beauty pageant's grand finale held in Kathmandu this evening. The pageant was organised by The Hidden Treasure at the DurbarMarg-based hotel de l'Annapurna. Evana Manandhar, Miss Nepal 2015, handed the crown to the new (21st) Miss Nepal Asmi Shrestha at the grand finale. Shrestha will represent Nepal in the Miss World Contest this year. Similarly, the first and second runners-up will represent Nepal in the Miss Earth and the Miss International respectively. The new winner was also awarded a Yamaha Scooter and Rs 100,000 along with the title. Roshani Khatri (first runner-up) was crowned with the title Miss Nepal Earth 2016  while Barsha Lekhi (second runner-up) bagged the Miss Nepal International 2016. Top five finalists were Namrata Shrestha, Roshini Khatri, Asmi Shrestha, Srijana Regmi and Barsha Lekhi. Senior litterateur Rajendra Thapa, a jury member, asked the final question in the last round of the competition. The question was: Do you support quota reservation for women? Is it good  or bad or should there be reservation for a certain time? The contestants were asked to pick one option among three and justify the position with logical reasons. This was the question which determined the winner as Shrestha's short and sweet answer won the hearts of jury members. Shrestha had replied that women should be given chance and they have already proved it as Nepal has its first woman President and two CNN heroes. Ashma KC bagged the title of Miss Fascino and Miss Athletic whereas the winner Shrestha won the titles of Miss Photogenic and Miss Intellectual as well. Ansu KC won the title of Miss Frienship, Prerana Adhikari bagged the title of Miss Scholar and Beautiful Skin. Similarly, Roshini Khatri won the title of Miss Confidence and Personality. Srijana Regmi claimed the title of Miss Talent and the Beauty with Purpose was rewarded to Partima Dawadi. Likewise, Ayshma Shrestha won the Bubbly Popular Choice Award. The members of jury were Rajendra Thapa, Asmi Rana, Laxman Humagain, Babita Basnet, Ganga Jung Thapa, Indira Joshi, Sachin Shrestha, Nabina Lama, Jivan Luitel, Sangita Shrestha and Sneha Rana. Ruby Rana was the first to win the Miss Nepal title in 1994. The final 19 finalists had auditioned for the beauty pageant, from various cities of Nepal, including Dharan, Biratnagar, Chitwan, Butwal and Pokhara.