Sohyal Karki
Real Estate Developer, Managing Director & Chairman, SK Ventures
Today, it’s highly debatable whether beauty pageants are just another flawed patriarchal concept from yesteryears that has been heavily commercialised. While ideally it is supposed to build confidence, incorporate discipline and foster goal alignment amongst the participants, many now argue that it rather breaks down the self-esteem of most individuals with its unhealthy scrutiny that is majorly based on physical attributes.
But regardless of these negative aspects, I personally think it also has a lot more to offer like instilling a sense of competitive spirit for survival in the rat race and opens door for the determined participants. With the absolutely high popularity reach of beauty pageants amongst the masses, it serves as a perfect platform to raise widespread awareness on any social issues at an unprecedented speed. If done right with a dedicated, committed and ambitious individual donning the crown, it can bring forth the attention and solution to any social issue much faster and effectively than any other mediums because of the popularity it brings forth. Otherwise, it is just another case of beauty over brains.
Prof. Dr. Dhrubesh Chandra Regmi
Padma Kanya Multiple Campus Tribhuvan University & Founder and Sitarist, Sukarma (Redefining Nepali Folk and Classical Music)
I think beauty pageants help a woman to explore her strengths along with her beauty as it gives her a platform to showcase her hidden talent. Having said that, beauty pageants must also carry social and religious values and terms else it can bring many problems in society. The winners of the pageant play a vital role in promoting our country’s tourism as they represent Nepal in international pageants which will make people curious regarding our culture and values. So beauty pageants for me is a positive initiative which helps people to learn about different cultures and religions of the world.
Nischal Basnet
Actor
Pageants can be a good platform for any individual to grow and learn to be confident.
Pasang Yonzon Lama
Chief Executive Producer, Yoho TV
There are two sides to a coin. Likewise, beauty pageant have a bright and a dark side. Let me talk about the brighter side, you get that one opportunity and you need to grab it and put it into your basket which later makes you strong to own that court. Now talking about the darker side, in Nepal for a year you get that attention and love, and after that you are lost like hell. No proper guidelines for the winners and the worst part is the rumours of bribery in choosing winners. Hope the scenario of beauty pageants change and hope deserving participants win.
Bikrant Shrestha
Director, Yes Sir Vehicle & Eduquest Nepal
Competition is real, fame and glory is transient. Healthy competition inspires individuals to give their best, to be more curious, to develop emotional control and a fire to foster creativity. Same goes with beauty competitions and pageants. Provided that the program is conducted under a transparent and unbiased manner, it can be boon for each participant. However the opposite can be curse and may create devastating effect among the participants, mentally and emotionally.
It is obvious that when there is a competition there will be a winner. Generally in our part of realm, winner takes all the spotlight, wows and bows. The participants should be groomed to win the marathon not just a race. They should realise, losing can be blessing in disguise too. In contrast, winners should be groomed to make realistic goals. Sometimes setting high goals can bury you under the pressure of expectations which may result in depression and discouragement. Participants can use this platform to better put their act and plan something realistic, concrete and substantial that holds the true meaning of beauty. Life is romantic but has to be realistic too.
Finally, to put things into perspective, the motive behind pageants and competition from both the participants and the organiser side needs to be real and clear to have a lasting impact.
Prajal Pradhan
Architect, Landscape Planner & Founder, A for Architecture
Initially people perceived beauty pageants as a platform designed to hand pick physical beauties and crown the most good looking amongst them all. And people were quite okay with it. Gradually it evolved in a form of realisation that winners were not necessarily only better in appearance but also possessed some form of intellectual or creative abilities. There was this perception modification that the talent or intellectual abilities matter equally if not more. But still, the limitations are prominent, the talent to be eligible has to have strict physical dimensions, appearances and identities. Nevertheless, the impact the winners had made in the form of social and behavioural changes amongst the masses cannot be denied. The recent modifications in Miss Universe prerequisites have made me quite hopeful and supportive of this contest as a whole.