A professional model, Nikita Chandak, was crowned Miss Nepal 2017 in an event held on June 2 2017. There had been some online rumours that “Nikita doesn’t look like Nepali” or “she is an Indian.” But in reality, she is a hundred percent Nepali. Even before the finale, I thought she was the most suitable candidate to be crowned Miss Nepal. That was the reason I prepared her biography and told she was “deserving candidate.”

Video update:

Why did I think Nikita Chandak was the most suitable candidate to be crowned Miss Nepal?

On analyzing the 19 contestants, I had guessed either Nikita Chandak or Niti Shah to be crowned Miss Nepal. That was why I prepared the biography videos of those two contestants. My guess was right, Nikita was crowned and Niti was crowned the Miss Nepal International.

My guess was not a mere guess – it was a “calculated guess”. I had evaluated their background and their personality and the strength of their desire to become Miss Nepal. A few days before the contest, Miss Nepal 2016, Asmi Shrestha, had expressed that Nikita Chandak stood out in a fashion show held in Kathmandu. When I looked at her background and personality, she seem to give off the confidence and the personality a Miss Nepal needs.

Watch the introduction video of Nikita Chandak (I prepared it before she was crowned!)

Is Nikita Chandak an Indian?

Nikita has the Indian looks because she is from Marwari family. That is the beauty of the diversity of Nepal. People in the mountain region look like Chinese and those in Terai region look like Indian.

In fact, it was a new record in Miss Nepal: Chandak was the first Miss Nepal from Marwari family.

Controversy and Miss Nepal go hand-in-hand. Last year, it was Newar girl winning Miss Nepal and the judges being biased. On the farewell speech, Miss Nepal 2016, Asmi Shrestha, also mentioned the issue and told that people should stop talk about the cast and ethnicity. This year’s controversy is an extension of ethnicity controversy.

How did the controversy start?

From the start, people had commented that Nikita looked like an Indian. To support their notion, they found a few things like:

• Nikita is studying fashion in India.
• Nikita has walked in the ramp of India and is featured as a model in India.
• A website, Starnow, has listed Nikita as a model in India. (That is true, she was working as a model in India. That doesn’t prove anything. She is still a Nepali)
• A photo with Indian flag overlay has also been taken as a “proof” that she is Indian. I do use Canadian flag overlay at times. That doesn’t make me Canadian. She was living and studying in India. There are times when you do such things and that doesn’t mean anything.

None of these stuffs makes her Indian. Now, a Miss Nepal, Nikita Chandak is proudly representing our country, Nepal,  in the international arena. It is better to support her and make her a proud Nepali.

I think, we should be supporting Nikita and help her in better representing Nepal.

Screenshot of a website page – telling Nikita was located in India (she was studying and working in India at that time).

A photo with Indian Flag overlay – created by a Facebook app to support digital India. (Supporting doesn’t make the citizen.)

My request – Let’s support our Miss Nepal and make her a strong represent to Miss World !

Videos:
Interview after crowning:

News about Miss Nepal 2017

Miss Nepal 2016 farewell speech: