Kathmandu. Ashma Kumari KC has been chosen Miss Nepal World 2024. She was crowned the coveted title amid a grand finale held at Sunrise Conference Hall in Godawari, Lalitpur, on Saturday. Srichchha Pradhan, Miss Nepal-2023, crowned her the new Miss Nepal. KC also got the chance to represent Nepal in the Miss World.

Likewise, Karuna Rawat was crowned ‘Miss Nepal International,’ and Sumana KC won the title of ‘Miss Nepal Earth.’ Last year’s Miss Nepal International, Prasiddhy Shah, and Miss Nepal Earth, Raina Majgaiya, crowned Rawat and KC, respectively.

Additionally, winners of five sub-categories were also announced during the ceremony. Shraddha Suman Silwal won the subtitle award ‘Miss Photogenic,’ Ashma Kumari KC bagged ‘Face of the Year,’ Dikshya Awasthi was awarded ‘Miss Intellectual,’ Sumana KC won ‘Beauty with a Purpose,’ and Kimti Shrestha won ‘Woman with Wings.’ Each subtitle holder received Rs. 25,000.

Ashma Kumari KC, born and brought up in Kathmandu and a student of Bachelor’s in Social Work and an entrepreneur, won the title by answering the final question: “This year, again we witness an increase in extreme weather events, like extreme temperatures and increased intensity of rainfall resulting in flooding and landslides. What do you think is the cause of this event and what do you think should be done to reduce such events?”

Her answer was: “Nepal, despite contributing only 0.027 per cent of global CO2 emissions, faces unprecedented threats from climate change. The 2020 floods displaced over 20,000 people in Nepal, deeply affecting the country. In my opinion, the solution is to act now and advocate for national and international policies while embracing personal responsibilities. Switching to an EV, planting trees, and stopping the use of single-use plastics are steps we must take together, and we must act now for our environment and future. Together, I believe we can make a difference.”

A panel of 11 judges, including Dr. Rupak Ghimire, Laxmi Bhandari, Rena Rijal, Bijay Karmacharya, Sahara Basnet Rana, actor Divya Dev, former Miss Nepal Priyanka Rani Joshi, Sharad Bheswakar, Riyasa Dahal, Bishnu Hari Pandey and Sakun Bhandari chose this year’s Miss Nepal.

The event was graced by the presence of Nepali fashion, film, and music celebrities, adding to the grandeur of the occasion. The competition saw 26 semifinalists vying for the Miss Nepal title. The Miss Nepal pageant is organised annually by The Hidden Treasure.

Rubi Rana, the first Miss Nepal, who won the title in 1994, expressed her best wishes on the 30th anniversary of Miss Nepal.

She said “Thirty years ago, on this platform, I conveyed a message to the organisers of Miss Nepal asking them to continue their journey. Yes, it has really been 30 years,” said Rana, “All the Miss Nepals who are present with me on this journey, I bow down to The Hidden Treasure. During this journey, there may have been some difficult problems, but while dealing with those problems, The Hidden Treasure, like a chariot, moved its wheels forward regularly and continuously.”

This year, however, Miss Nepal 2023, Srichchha Pradhan, will represent Nepal in Miss World 2025 in Februray/ March next year.(TRN)