Anuz Thapa / New York
Her Facebook wall is loaded with lots of applause and praise since August 23, 2015. She has been getting numerous Facebook requests too. Suddenly she has become an instant known figure especially in social media. All this happened because of a beauty pageant named “Miss Nepal US”. 21 years old Priyanka Thapaliya was crowned the 5th Miss Nepal US in a recently held beauty pageant in Manhattan, New York.
Priyanka beat out 9 contestants to bag the title award at the Concert Hall, New York Society of Ethical Culture on August 23, 2015. She inherited her title from Miss Nepal US 2014, Khusbu Mishra.
Resident of North Carolina, Priyanka, won the title over runner-up Kausali Lama of Minnesota. Neha Jha from Texas secured her third place.
After the top five contestants had been announced, each participant was asked different questions from the panel of judges. Priyanka, who also won the title of ‘Miss Photogenic’, was asked a tricky question. “If you win the title award, how will you handle the criticism that comes along with it?” She gracefully responded, “The title itself gives one the power to handle any situation so I will have no problem to handle any criticism.”
Originally from Chabahil, Priyanka migrated to the United States with her parents in 2013. “I am proud of you,” said her father Dinesh Thapaliya congratulating her on her achievement.
“I really feel blessed to have my father and mother both by my sides at the crowning moment.” She added, “I am happy that I could bring joy to their faces.”
Dinesh ran a transportation business in Nepal and Priyanka’s mother, Punam Thapaliya was a housewife.
Priyanka has never participated in any beauty pageant prior this. The only event she recalled being participated was a fashion show when she was doing her + 2 in Ace Institute of Management in Baneshwor. “It wasn’t any kind of pageant but a cultural fashion show, “she recalled.
“I have always loved dancing since my childhood,” Priyanka chuckled. “I never missed out dancing in any annual event during my school days.”
She completed her School Leaving Certificate from Brihaspati Bidhyasadan of Naxal.
Currently pursuing her under-graduate in Guilford Technical Community College in Jamestown, North Carolina, she feels the title is a huge responsibility on her shoulder. “I dreamt of winning this title and I made it. Now, as a title holder, I owe more to my nation,” she uttered.
She had recently gone to Nepal in May and has also witnessed the destruction caused by the April earthquake. “I also felt the major shake on May 12. I volunteered-in Sindhupalchowk for the relief work. I have seen the devastation it caused. I can feel the pain people have gone through,” she shared.
Amit Shah, founder and CEO of Event Planet Inc., informed that Priyanka will be going to Nepal in December for her social work, where she will be visiting the areas affected by the earthquake of April 2015. “The theme for this year’s pageant is ‘Rebuilding Nepal’ so we are sending her to build up her own project which benefits the earthquake victims,” he said. “The final ten contestants have collectively raised around $8000 during this pageant. That money will be given to her as seed money and she has to build up a project over that when she comes back from Nepal,” he added.
Miss Nepal US hasn’t gained that momentum like Miss Nepal. Asked whether she would be up for Miss Nepal, she replied,”I haven’t really thought of it. My first priority right now is to carry out the responsibility as Miss Nepal US for a year. Then I have to finish my under-grads.” She added, “I don’t rule out the possibility of participating in the Miss Nepal event in coming years to come but it’s not in me right now.”
Kiran Chetry, former CNN news anchor, emceed the event. Kiran, who inherits her surname from her Nepalese father, carefully handled the show amidst technical error. “Having these kind of technical glitches, change of schedule in last minute, you know, is totally Nepalese style,” she laughed.
Miss Nepal US is an annual event hosted by Event Planet Inc since 2011. All Nepalese women aged 19 to 29 and currently residing in the USA are eligible to participate in the contest.
This year, twenty-seven applicants from across the States applied for the pageant through missnepalus.com – skype interviews and personal interviews were conducted to finalize the top ten. Three days of grooming session was done before the grand finale.
The added feature of this year’s event was introduction of new title: Miss Nepal US-Ambassador. According to the official website www.missnepalus.com, “In an effort to strengthen the Nepalese-American Youth relationship, to give opportunities to those who want to help Nepal, and /or have elaborately formulated relief effort concepts to support the Nepal earthquake victims, this year we are also opening our platform to the American females of all races, ages 19-29, where they will be competing for the exclusive sub-title of Miss Nepal US-Ambassador.”
Nisha Kalamdani (Pakistani American) was awarded the title. Thirty eight applicants of non-Nepalese origin had vied for the crown in this category. Interestingly, this is more than the number of applicants of Miss Nepal US. Nisha, 22, will also be joining Priyanka to Nepal.
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