Five contestants vie for the Miss Tibet 2007

By Phurbu Thinley

Dharamsala, October 5: Of the many events in the month of October in Dharamsala, probably the most glamorous one demanding much attention could well be Miss Tibet Beauty pageant.

This year, five contestants are vying for the beauty title after testing them through seven competition rounds.

Despite much insisted hype by Lobsang Wangyal, the man behind the beauty pageant, to add more contending beauties to his show, the number remains at dwindling low. In fact, for this year, there is one less in number compared to last year’s.

Nevertheless, Lobsang is adamant and is hopeful to add more contestants in coming years, as he promises to continue with the beauty show.

“The enthusiasm with which more than ten women applied is a clear sign of hope to have even more contestants in the future” Lobsang said at the beauty pageant’s press conference.

Deeki Dolma, 20, from Gangtok, Sikkim; Tenzin Dolma, 21, from McLeod Ganj; Tenzin Pema, 19, from Clement Town, Dehradun; Tenzing Dolma, 25, from Gangtok, Sikkim and Tsering Yangzom, 20, from Kollegal, Karnataka are contesting for this year’s Tibetan beauty title.

“To represent and promote Tibet by taking part in Miss Tibet,” is the sole purpose of taking part in the contest for Deeki Dolma from Sikkim.

Tenzin Pema, a BA first-year student in Delhi University, on the other, says her participation is “to encourage other young Tibetans to come forward and be expressive of their own”.

Before the actual final competition rounds would begin from 12 to 14 October, the contestants will undergo a week-long training, which among others includes yoga, dance and catwalk, Lobsang said. A week-long training will be accompanied by orientation on Tibetan history, culture and current affairs, environmental issues, human rights and music and, visits to Tibetan Government-in-Exile, NGOs and institutions.

The contestants were yesterday shown "Miss Tibet in Exile", a documentary film on Miss Tibet pageant, directed by Tashi Wangchuk and Tsultrim Dorjee of Tibet Motion Pictures & Arts.

Miss Tibet 2006, Tsering Chungdak successfully participated in the Miss Earth contest last year and won "Miss Good-Will" title of the pageant.

“We hope to produce yet another memorable edition of the Miss Tibet pageant,” says Lobsang.

Source: Phayul