RONEESHMA SHRESTHA
In a city buzzing with events that range from music festivals to intimate product launches, one young voice has emerged prominently in the city’s social circuit commanding stages, charming audiences, and tying moments together with seamless grace and energy. This voice belongs to Roneeshma Shrestha, the emcee who has in a few short years, become a fixture in Nepal’s event circuit. Whether it’s a 5,000-strong music festival, a buttoned-up corporate gala, or a televised kids’ singing reality show, chances are, Roneeshma is on the mic, and absolutely owning it.
Photo: Aaryan Shrestha
From confused kid to crowd whisperer
Roneeshma’s journey to the spotlight didn’t follow a pre-planned script. “I was that confused kid who wanted to be everything: a doctor, a fashion designer, a journalist, a performer. You name it,” she laughs, reflecting on her childhood. But amid the chaos of those career dreams, one thing remained constant: she was always the entertainer, the one mimicking relatives at family gatherings, performing spontaneous skits at school, or organising fun games among friends. It’s no surprise then that her ability to connect with people was an innate skill, just waiting for the right platform to bloom.
Her first real brush with the stage came not as an emcee but as a journalist. She began her career as a reporter for a local magazine, where her curiosity about people and stories found a natural outlet. But it was during a music festival called Grassland where her potential for emceeing finally surfaced. “I had no prior experience, just adrenaline and a mic. But the moment I spoke, it felt right; like I had found my zone,” she recalls.
That one spontaneous gig turned into many more and within just four years, Roneeshma has gone from last-minute stand-in to the go-to name on every event organiser’s list.
The voice of Kathmandu’s events
Roneeshma’s versatility is perhaps what makes her such a sought-after host. Her presence doesn’t overshadow the event; it elevates it. She knows when to dial up the humour, when to keep things crisp and professional, and when to create an emotional pause. Her instincts on stage are razor-sharp, honed from hours of live interaction, unpredictable audiences, and quick thinking.
Music fests? She’s there. Corporate events? She owns them. High-energy club nights, brand launches, weddings, fashion shows, and more; Roneeshma has mastered the art of reading the room and owning the energy.
In a recent event for a luxury fashion label, she was seen effortlessly guiding guests through the evening, interacting with designers, influencers and celebrities, all while ensuring the spotlight never veered off the main act. “Being an emcee is not just about talking. It’s about listening, adapting and orchestrating the mood,” she explains.
She recently added another feather to her already vibrant cap by hosting a national-level kids’ singing reality show “The Voice Kids Season 3 & 4” on television, a role that showcased her warmth, patience, and childlike energy. “Kids are the toughest audience because they don’t pretend,” she smiles. “But that made it all the more fulfilling. I got to be silly, sincere and spontaneous, all at once.”
Beyond the mic
While her emceeing calendar is packed months in advance, Roneeshma isn’t one to settle into a single identity. Fashion is a parallel passion that she’s ready to explore with the same energy she brings to the stage. “I have always been drawn to style, not just clothes but the story behind them,” she says. “I want to create something in fashion that reflects my personality: bold, experimental and joyful.”
She has quietly been building mood boards, even as she hops from one gig to the next. If all goes to plan, she hopes to launch her own label in the near future, one that’s rooted in contemporary Nepali aesthetics with a global edge.
Fashion, after all, has always been part of her outlook whether in her statement sleeves, fearless colour palettes or her signature accessories.
Shining on screen
Not one to be limited by a single medium, Roneeshma recently appeared in the music video Junn Na Heri, a fun track featuring Wangden Sherpa and Sushant Ghimire. In the video, her presence is understated yet magnetic, a reminder that her charisma isn’t confined to a live audience. “I want to experiment. Acting, hosting, maybe even storytelling on a digital platform… the possibilities are exciting. I am not putting myself in a box,” she says.
With natural wit, ease with people, and relentless drive, Roneeshma is charting a unique path in Nepal’s entertainment space. And the most refreshing part? She isn’t rushing. “I am going with the flow,” she says. “But I am flowing with intention.”
In a world obsessed with five-year plans and viral moments, Roneeshma is choosing presence, being rooted in the now while quietly building a future on her own terms.
Text: Ankita Jain
