Miss Sumi
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Miss Sümi 2010
After 4 days of waking up early to spend 5-6 hours on the road and in the sky, I finally arrived in Zunheboto, Nagaland around 1.30pm on the 13th of November with a small dent in my head…
After being treated to some tea and and ahuna, the name given to rice cooked in bamboo during the Sumi month of Ahuna, when the post-harvest festival Ahuna is celebrated - my principal reason for coming to Zunheboto at this time of year - I was asked if I wanted to attend the Miss Sumi 2010 beauty pageant later that afternoon. Having seen videos of a Miss Nagaland beauty pageant at the anthropological museum in Zurich back in December 2008, I was keen to attend despite my fatigue.
After squeezing through the Zunheboto town hall doors with our tickets, my hosts and I had to sit through a number of speeches thanking the numerous donors and 'sponsorers' (sic) before the actual pageant began.
It was pretty normal as pageants come. There was the ethnic costume round, the 'casual' round where the girls presumably chose their own 'modern' outfits, and the 'designer' round where they got to model outfits made by a local designer. The girls also had to introduce themselves and answers a few questions: two in English and one in Sumi.
My favourite for the evening was contestant 10, because she - wait for it - had recently completed an MA in Linguistics.
Much of the commentary seemed to focus on 'women's empowerment' and using this as a platform for that. However, as with most beauty pageants that claim to do so, I couldn't help but notice the large number of males in the audience oggling [sic] and catcalling at the participants, especially when they were in 'ethnic costume [sic] '.
The other thing I found slightly disturbing - the organisers clearly have never seen Little Miss Sunshine - was a performance by little girls from the local Montesorri school, dancing to the song "Shut Up and Bounce" from the Bollywood film Dostana.
I'm really sure if people quite understood the not-so-subtle subtext to that song:
"I feel it... I need it... Baby we can do it all night".
Add that to the little cosutmes [sic] the girls were in, and I can't imagine how parents in the West (except maybe in America) would ever approve of such a performance. But it clearly didn't seem to phaze {[sic] faze was meant} the audience here, and even when I show the video to people here, everyone seems to think it's just a very cute performance.
I was really grateful to be able to attend the event, especially given that tickets cost 500 Rs to admit two. There were some complaints about the sound operators this year, especially when they stuffed up the actual Ahuna festival sound the following two days. But who would've thought, I actually got to attend a beauty pageant in Nagaland.
Amos was pursuing a PhD in Linguistics at the University of Oregon, when he wrote this piece.
Miss Sumi 2016
Photo Courtesy Lovito Muru Tuccu, through Morung Express
Photo Courtesy Lovito Muru Tuccu, through Morung Express
Photo Courtesy Daily Hunt
The queens
Miss Sümi 2016 Vilokali Zhimomi
First runner up Peniel Achumi (born 1993)
Second runner up Viboli V. Achumi (born 1995)
Miss Photogenic Vilokali Zhimomi,
Miss Perfect 10 Vilokali Zhimomi,
Miss Fluent Sümi Vilokali Zhimomi
Best Ramp Walk Vilokali Zhimomi.
Miss Congeniality Toholi I. Kibami
Miss Flawless Skin Peniel Achumi
Miss Beautiful Smile Viboli V. Achumi
Miss Radiant Hair K. Livika Sumi
Best Traditional Attire Alikali V. Chophi
Best Etiquette Toinali H. Aye.
The prizes
The winner’s cash prize: Rs. one lakh + gift hampers.
First runner up Rs. 75,000 + gift hampers.
Second runner Rs. 50,000 + gift hampers.
All the sub-title winners: Rs. 15,000 + gift hampers.
The pageant
Venue NER Agri Expo Site, 4th Mile, Dimapur
Date November 8 2016.
Organised by jointly organised by Sümi Totimi Hoho (STH) and Western Sümi Totimi Hoho.
Vilokali Zhimomi crowned Miss Sümi 2016| November 8, 2016| Morung Express adds:
The chief guest, Minister of Roads And Bridges, Vikheho Y Swu, described the Sümis as a “blessed tribe” since the members of the community were spread across Nagaland and said they should take advantage of this and promote oneness among the Nagas.
Earlier, Miss Sümi 2016, which was held under the theme “Hi No Sülimi (Echt Sülimi)”, began with ethnic wear round wherein the contestants displayed traditional Sümi attire and introduced themselves followed by modern ethic wear round and the first question hour in Sümi dialect.
The contestants also wore the collection of Miss Sümi 2016 event designer Kaho Sumi during the designer round followed by “formal evening wear”.
Judges: Patricia Zhimomi, Dr. Hokishe Kiho, Dr. Khekugha Murru, Vini Pitoho Chophy and K Atoli Sema.
In the main session, designer Tokali also showcased her collection, violin recital was presented by Abel Assümi, a dance item was presented by a three year old Alovili Chishi, special numbers were presented by Nagagenous, Livika and Lino, a visually impaired. The contestants were serenaded by Khekaho Aye.
The host and hostess of the event were T Akato Sema and Vili V Yeptho, choreographer Tsukoli Kinimi and make-up artist Calvina Zhimomi, accoring to a press note from the Media and Publicity Committee, Miss Sümi 2016
See also
Miss Chang, Tuensang<>Miss Dimapur <> Miss Dimapur 2012<> Miss Dimapur 2013 <> Miss Dimapur 2014<> Miss Dimapur 2015<> Miss Dimapur 2016<>Miss Kohima<>Miss Mokokchung<>Miss Mokokchung 2015<>Miss Mokokchung 2016<> Miss Nagaland<>Miss Nagaland 2015<>Miss Nagaland 2016<>Miss Nagaland 2017<>Miss Sumi <>Miss Wokha, Miss Tokhu
