KATHMANDU: They’ve come from all corners of the nation — Kathmandu, Sunsari, Kailali, Banke, Jhapa, Morang and Rupandehi. And they all have one dream in their eyes — to be crowned Dabur Vatika Miss Nepal 2007. But do they have it in them to reach that goal? Well, they were shortlisted from hundreds of applicants and went through a preliminary interview round to make it as one of the final 19. To get them ready, they are being groomed by the nation’s top experts.

Yet everyone knows that the road ahead is tough, and in the end there will be but one Miss Nepal. However, the journey to the destination also counts. So here’s wishing the girls the best for this journey of their lifetime.

Punam Shahi (Contestant No 9) is 23 and doing her LLB. This 5’ 4” beauty dislikes “guys who stare” and thinks that the most clichéd question of a beauty pageant is “What would you do if your became the PM of your country?”

She says that she is too sweet to tell a lie and that her favourite colours are blue, white, black and green “cause these colours suit” her.

Punam believes that all the other contestants are her “toughest” contenders for the title. And yes, this Kathmandu belle will not tolerate any bad habit in her partner.

(To vote for Punam, SMS DVMC 09 to 2722 from any mobile set, or dial 2722 from any UTL phone)

Bibha Prajapati (Contestant No 8) is doing her undergraduate studies, is also 23 and also from Kathmandu.

Just in Jest is the first thing that this 5’ 5.5” tall girl reads when she opens her daily.

Bibha does not think that “narrow minded guys” are cool, but would tolerate it if her partner had the smoking habit.

She loves wearing pink as it suits her and thinks that remix videos/songs are refreshing.

(To vote for Bibha, SMS DVMC 08 to 2722 from any mobile set, or dial 2722 from any UTL phone)