Miss Tibet: 2017

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Swimsuit Round at Asia Health Resorts and Spa in McLeod Ganj

Tenzin Paldon, Miss Tibet 2017
Author Shyam Sharma

Tenzin Khechoe, first runner-up
Author Shyam Sharma

Tenzin Nordron, second runner-up
Author Shyam Sharma

Chemi Kytzom
Author Shyam Sharma

Minnesota’s MPR News described the contest that Lobsang Wangyal has been bravely organising every year since 2002 as ‘a survival tool for exiles.’ Indpaedia is taking the message of the Miss Tibet (in exile) pageant forward in its own humble way. We have not only sourced the archives of Miss Tibet.com, we have also sought out all sensitive accounts about this annual celebration of Tibetanness. If you have any articles or photographs about this pageant (or any aspect of the Tibetans’ life in exile), could you please send them as messages to the Facebook community, Indpaedia.com? All information used will be gratefully acknowledged in your name. Tibet-related pages on Indpaedia are edited by the author of Tibet: 50 years after, the Preface of which was written by HH the Dalai Lama.

THE GRAND FINALE

Naresh K Thakur | Karnataka’s Tenzin Paldon wins Miss Tibet-2017 title | Jun 05, 2017 | Hindustan Times

The pageant

Venue: Tibetan Institute of Performing Arts (TIPA), McLeodganj The three-day event had seven rounds, mainly of swim suit, talent and talk and traditional costume. No. of contestants: A record of nine contestants from India, United States and Europe took part.

The queens

Tenzin Paldon, 21, Miss Tibet-2017 Tenzin Khechoe, 22, from Bengaluru: first runner-up Tenzin Nordron, 20, from Chauntra in Mandi district of Himachal Pradesh, second runner-up.

Prizes

The winner got a cash prize of Rs 1 lakh First runner-up: Rs 50,000 2nd runner-up: Rs 25,000

Subtitles

Tenzin Paldon: Miss Photogenic.

Sidelights

“I was expecting Tenzin Khechoe to win, but right now we are both winners,” said Paldon after being crowned. “The title will also be immensely helpful in my modelling career. The modelling agency has already come forward with more offers,” she added.

Tenzin Khechoe, 22, the first runner-up, lost the crown by a thin margin.

“I am satisfied and happy that I at least got the first runner-up tag and also the experience I have got through this pageant. All of them will be helpful in my future endeavors,” Khechoe said.

Director takes a bow

Organising Miss Tibet Pageant (since 2002), Lobsang Wangyal, who loves to call himself a Tibetan social entrepreneur, announced his intention to withdraw and sell the pageant.

“The show will go on but under a different production house. I have been doing this for 15 years. With such huge gathering and nine beautiful contestants, I think it is the best way to leave at a high,” said Wangyal in his address before the crowning ceremony.

Stating that it is time for someone else to carry forward the legacy, Wangyal called on the interested party who wants to manage the contest, but made clear that it would not be free of cost and the buyers must also accept the responsibility of upholding the original aims and objectives of the pageant.

He said the price of the franchise would be decided when any interested party comes in with an offer.

Tenzin Paldon, a brief profile

ANJALI BISARIA | Tenzin Paldon Crowned Miss Tibet 2017, Wants To Take The Cause Of Tibet International | JUNE 06, 2017 | IndiaTimes/ The Times of India

21-year-old Tenzin Paldon from Karnataka was crowned Miss Tibet, 2017 at the 15th edition of the annual pageant held in Dharamsala on June 4 2017.

A member of the cabin crew with SpiceJet Airlines, Paldon graduated from the Frankfinn Institute with a degree in aviation management.

The pageant saw a total of nine participants, none of whom has ever visited Tibet before. They are the members of the 100,000-strong Tibetan community that was established in India in 1960 following Dalai Lama's exile into the country.

But here's the catch. This is one contest that gets zero sponsors. Judges and participants are hard to find and it, more often than not, gets ensnared in controversy, like objections from conservative Tibetan members and feminist complaining on moral grounds.

This year's pageant was attended by over 3,000 people, the organisers said. On the first day of the three-day event, contestants participated in the swimsuit round on June 2. The second day saw a talk and talent round on June 3. The grand finale was held on June 4 with four rounds - introduction, gown, traditional costume, and interview.

The winner Paldon got a cash prize of Rs 1 lakh while the first and runners-up were given Rs 50,000 and Rs 25,000 respectively. With this feat, Paldon is hopeful of taking her win international and apprising the world of Tibetan culture, its issues and causes.

See also

Miss Tibet: The contest// Miss Tibet: 2002-2005// Miss Tibet: 2006-2009// Miss Tibet: 2010-2013// Tenzin Khecheo // Miss Tibet: 2014// Miss Tibet: 2015// Miss Tibet: 2016// Miss Tibet: 2017