Beauty pageants are very regular these days. Some are remembered for something and some are not. Nevertheless, every event has something to offer. While Cecilia Gurung walked home with the title of Pearl Miss Tourism Queen International Nepal 2005 and a lot of dreams and responsibilities on her shoulders (she will represent Nepal in Miss Tourism Queen International in China), the event of May 20, which declared her winner left most of the audience high and spaced out. Some highlights:

Tight accommodation: The furniture was unable to accommodate the presence of beauty lovers some of whom could be seen standing at the aisles of the hall.

Spaced in: The stage set had difficulty accommodating more than 20 dancers performing. Thank God, no one fell off the stage.

Third call: Poor Malvika and Suhrid (emcees of the night) had to call thrice before the contestants appeared onstage. (Rachna ma’am where are you?)

Fooling around: I admire your knack of cracking jokes, Suhrid, but what about a bit more homework? Thanks Malvika for guiding Suhrid.

Filled. Out!: They are a regular feature. To help prepare sequences, fillers are necessary to keep the guests entertained and glued to the seats. The rather easygoing fillers in this show, however, served a different purpose. They put the audience at ease, especially those with bladder problems. Everyone was seen rushing to the loo.

Well-acquainted!: Before putting the question, one of the judges said to the contestant: “We know each other, ya?” Enough to make people smell the odd fish!

Question in Nepali: Rupy Singh, one of the judges, was requested by Contestant No. 12 to repeat a question in Nepali. Sorry Rupy, she didn’t know that it would be as difficult for you to ask the query in Nepali as it was for her to understand and answer it in English.

More calls: Chief judge Karna Shakya was so nice to say that he would ask the question in English as well as in Nepali. But the top five contestants’ blank faces made him repeat his question thrice. He was finally assisted by Malvika to get himself across. You are too tough, sir!

Wanted. A chair: Emcees were ready to announce the three finalists but Malvika paused suddenly! What went wrong? There were no chairs for the winners to sit. Never mind, shit happens.

Of course, these odd facts don’t mean a thing but only make us remember the event. As the adage goes, “only those learn, that stumble”. Yes, the sets were attractive, dresses were beautiful (kudos to IEC), Rachna Gurung Sharma’s efforts were laudable and Malvika, no doubt, you have come a long way. Let’s hope for the best and extend our wishes to Cecilia.