By Phurbu Thinley
Dharamsala, June 5: First phase of a three-day Miss Tibet beauty pageant competition kickstarted with a swimsuit round at a local swimming pool here yesterday afternoon.
The competition started with four contestants performing a ramp show in swimwear around a mini swimming pool located at a picturesque local on the lap of Dhauladhar mountain range.
The participants contested for 40 points judged by two jury members 10 points each for their figure, skin, posture and poise.
A large public enthusiasts turned up to watch, what has been described by many in the exile Tibetan community as the “most daring” part of the beauty pageant.
A strong media presence, however, dominated the scene of the competition round.
Scores from six more competition rounds in the next two days will add up to decide the final crowning of this year’s Tibetan beauty on the grand finale night on Sunday at the Tibetan Institute of Performing Arts (TIPA).
Two more rounds – “Presentation and Talent” – will be held tonight at TIPA.
This year’s pageant is officially called Kingfisher Miss Tibet Pageant 2010, as KF is the sponsor of the pageant.
Meet the Miss Tibet contestants
Rinchen Choden – Born in Tawang in north eastern India in 1985, she is a hair stylist with a Bachelor of Commerce degree.
She speaks English, Hindi, Tibetan, Tamil and Kanada, and likes reading, swimming and shopping.
She has many goals in life, but says “we can only stick to a single goal and aim for it”. By winning Miss Tibet, she says will empower her to do something for Tibeta and her people. Aspiring to become a top model, she says, has been her childhood dream.
Tenzin Norzom – Born in Hunsur Tibetan settlement in South India, in 1986, this 23-year old beauty has just completed Shastri degree (equivalent to Bachelor of Arts degree) from the Central University of Tibetan Studies in Varanasi.
She is fluent in English, Tibetan and Hindi, and likes reading, music and dancing, and playing badminton.
She says her immediate goal is to win this year’s Miss Tibet crown and be the messenger of the Tibetan freedom movement to the people of the world. Her second goal is to boost confidence in the younger generation Tibetan girls to participate in this Miss Tibet contest and prove to the world that “we Tibetans can do it.”
Tenzin Namchoe – Born in the Tibetan capital Lhasa in 1988, she came to India in the year 2000. Presently she is a second-year student at St Joseph College Bangalore, pursuing a Bachelors of Social Work.
She speaks Tibetan, Chinese, English, Hindi, and reading, helping others, playing piano and dancing her hobbies.
After completing her studies she wants to commit her life to social work in Tibetan community and help Tibetan youths to find purpose in their lives.
She wants to commit her life to social work in the Tibetan community after completing her studies.
Yangchen Metok – She was born in Golok in Amdo province of Tibet in 1991 and came to India only recently.
She studied till class VIII in her native place and is currently studying English language at a local local institute. She speaks Tibetan and Chinese and likes singing and dancing.
Once I become proficient in English language, I would like to become an air hostess, she says. To contribute as much as she can for the Tibetan cause, and find ways to work for the betterment of the lives of poor people, she says her longterm goals.
For images of the contestants, Click Here
