What image of Mi ss Nepal appears in your mind when you think of one? It obviously might be a tall talented beauty with a well-built figure and of course personality.

All these things came right for Sitashma Chand, 23, a five-foot and seven and a half inches tall oval faced beauty who bagged the coveted Dabur Vatika Mi ss Nepal title jointly presented by The Hidden Treasure and Kathmandu Jaycees with a theme New Face for New Nepal.

"I fell like I'm on the top of the world," a smiling Chand who succeeded Sugarika K.C. told The Rising Nepal in a short conversation on the stage.

"I was expecting to win but I was not sure," said Sitashma, a Lalitpur resident whose interests are in swimming, listening to music and watching movies.

With the title, Chand who craves to achieve succe ss in whatever she does also won one hundred thousand rupees and a Kinetic Nova-135 as well as an opportunity to compete in Mi ss World. In addition to a cheering audience of about one thousand people in Birendra International Convention Centre, hundreds of thousands of people around Nepal and abroad viewed the event live through Nepal Television.

Bandana Sharma's salsa dance in the talent show did prove her to be the best candidate for the title and was chosen first runner up in the event. Shweta Shah, who believes where there is hope there is fate and where there is fate there is miracle was 2nd runner up in the event. Sharma will represent Nepal in Mi ss Earth and Shah would be representing Nepal in Mi ss Asia Pacific. Sharma and Shah won sixty thousand and forty thousand rupees respectively for the titles.

To a question by Chief Judge, Rajesh Hamal, one of the leading actors Nepalese Film Industry ever had, "Should we follow our old traditions as they are or should we discu ss and change it?" Chand's answer was, "We should follow our traditions as it is but there would be some exceptions in following them. Like sacrificing animals in the name of god is not what God asks for. And I'm proud to be Nepali and what we have."

When all the 19 competitors walked in the ramp being donned in Saree, Sitashma's walk was the best as she was clad in a Thakuri dre ss designed by Sarfaraz Alam and Mala Lacoul. She was chosen Blay Mi ss Best Walk and New Era Mi ss Personality. Chand also completed her hat-trick with three titles who is now working as sales executive in Yamaha Music.

To a question whether she would like to be a daughter, wife or mother, Chand chose to be a daughter because as a daughter she could make her parents hold their head high. And she has been able to do so by winning the crown.

Likewise, Dabur Red Mi ss Beautiful Smile was given to Reecha Sharma, Dabur Vatika Mi ss Beautiful complexion was Rasami K.C., Nani Maya Khadka was chosen Dabur Vatika Shampoo Mi ss beautiful Hair and first runner up Sharma was chosen Sony Mi ss Photogenic. Sabitra Shrestha with her martial arts skills lured the judges to be chosen Real Mi ss talent. Each of the sub-title holders earned rupees ten thousand for the titles.

As the event began exactly at scheduled 4:30 pm, all the 19 aspirants appeared on the stage donned in different ethnic and cultural dre sses with performers in a song Mero Nepal (My Nepal) by Raju Lama (Mongolian Heart Singer).

Mingma Sherpa was another performer in the event who sang Chham Chham and after that Lama joined Nalina Chitrakar, Saroj Dutta, Juna prasai, Rajan Ishan and Ciney Gurung for a medley and a song Hamro Aawaz (Our Voice) composed by Rajan Ishan. Dj Raju Singh was a man behind the soothing and entertaining background music throughout the event. Rising actor Usha Poudel and her group dance, which was a prayer for the country, was another attraction in the event.

Protests outside
A group of 21 women and cultural organisations under the coordination of Maoist lawmaker Devi Khadka staged violent protest against the beauty pageant, demanding an end to such events.

The protestors accused the beauty contest organisers of exploiting women and exhibiting nudity in the name of displaying women's talents. "Such events have relegated women to commodities."

In a clash between the protestors and the police, five protestors are said to be injured. The protestors destroyed the welcome gates erected by the organisers.