Miss Tibet: 2002-2005

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Miss Tibet 2002: Dolma Tsering

Miss Tibet 2004: Tashi Yangchen

This is a patchwork of articles selected for the excellence of their content. You can help by plugging gaps in the information given below, especially about the years before and after these beauty queens won their crowns, because photographs and biographical details might not be available for that period. All contributions will be acknowledged. Readers can also send text and photographs about regional/ diaspora/ college beauty contests. (Example Miss Wokha, Miss Tokhu). Obviously, readers will not send any text or photograph that lowers the dignity of South Asia's beauty queens. Readers can send additional information, corrections, and photographs to the Facebook page, Indpaedia.com.

Sources

Miss Tibet

Miss Tibet 2003: Tsering Kyi

Miss Tibet 2003: Tsering Kyi

Miss Tibet 2005: Tenzin Nyima

Miss Tibet 2005: Tenzin Nyima

Miss Tibet 2002

The first-ever Miss Tibet pageant held in October 2002 was a huge success despite criticism from some prominent figures of the Tibetan community. The pageant was criticised as "aping western culture" and "un-Tibetan". The pageant ended up becoming a global lead story although only four Tibetan girls plunged in to the competition.

Though the pageant was criticised, the leaders did not try to ban it as it is apparently being publicised. It is debatable if beauty pageants are "western culture".

Since the successful conclusion of the first-ever Miss Tibet pageant, the winner Miss Tibet, Dolma Tsering, has contested in two international pageants, one in Malaysia and another in Mexico. She won the Miss Goodwill subsidiary title and the Best National Costume in the two countries respectively.

• Miss Tibet won Best National Costume in Mexico • • Miss Tibet met Miss China in Malaysia • • Dolma went to France • • Dolma failed to go to Turkey because Dolma didn't have her Identity Certificate (the Yellow Book) ready.

Miss Tibet 2004

by Kirsten Hyde [1]

Tashi Yangchen, a 24-year old computer engineer, was crowned Miss Tibet 2004 in McLeod Ganj, India.

The show was attended by over 2,000 people, Yangchen was also announced the winner of Miss Photogenic 2004.

There were five contenders for the coveted title — Dhondup Wangmo, Kalsang Dickey, Sonam Dickey, Tashi Yangchen, and Thinlay Dolma.

Yangchen lives in Sikkim, India

News channels from around the world, including the BBC and ARD in Germany, filmed the pageant,.

The Tibetan theme prevailed throughout the event as the five contestants participated in a Tibetan costume round, sang traditional songs in a talent contest, and gave a presentation on topics about Tibetan current affairs, history, the political situation and culture.

Lauren Cutcliffe, the presenter of the show, invited two dedicated supporters of the Tibetan cause — Palden Gyatso, a former political prisoner who spent 33 years in Chinese prisons in Tibet, and Meghan Howard, winner of the Free Spirit Award 2004 — to begin the ceremony with the lighting of the Free Spirit torches.

The Free Spirit Award was given to Howard to acknowledge her contribution to the Tibetan cause. Last year, she criticised the Chinese Premier, Wen Jiabao, when he gave a speech to students at the Harvard Business School in the US. After he said, "I understand my people and I love my people," Howard stood up, pulled out the Tibetan flag and shouted, "Tibet belongs to the Tibetan people. We will never stop fighting. I am a voice for those inside Tibet. Free Tibet."

She collected her award from Palden Gyatso before a cheering crowd.

The audience was kept entertained in between the pageant rounds by swing dancers Tim Collins and Jessie Litven from the, and Rinzin Palmo, a Tibetan singer who performed two songs from her album, Amay Shelray.

Miss Tibet 2005

MissTibet

MCLEOD GANJ, India, 8 October 2005

Tenzin Nyima was born in 1983 in Bylakuppe, the first and the largest Tibetan refugee settlement in South India. She attended Tibetan Homes School in Mussoorie for her schooling. She is studying in the final year for a BA English Honours degree in Delhi. She would like to continue with her studies. She likes playing basketball and dancing to Hindu dance numbers.

Tenzin Nyima, the lone brave participant for the Miss Tibet 2005 title was crowned as the new Miss Tibet at the Tibetan Institute of Performing Arts before an audience of a thousand plus spectators.

Nyima felt that the other applicants may have dropped out due to the social pressures on the Tibetan girls.

•On 4 February 2006 Tashi Yangchen went to Zimbabwe to participate in Miss Tourism World

• On 19 February Miss Tibet was expelled from Miss Tourism World due to Chinese pressure • On 10 July Chinese pressure ousted Miss Tibet from Malaysia Pageant

See also

Miss Tibet (in exile): The contest Miss Tibet (in exile): 2002-2005 Miss Tibet (in exile): 2006-2009 Miss Tibet (in exile): 2010-2013