Tenzin Choezom Wins Miss Tibet 2009

Tibetan beauties walked the ramp on the final round of the 'Miss Tibet 2009' beauty pageant in Dharamsala. Twenty years old, Tenzin Choezom from Dharamsala, was announced winner of the beauty pageant.

On the last day, contestants were judged in four rounds including introduction, evening gown, traditional costume and question round.

Hundreds of Tibetans assembled at the Tibetan Institute of Performing Arts to witness the contest and encourage the participants.

All the participants showcased their talent at the pageant and finally the judges announced Tenzin as the winner.

She was crowned at the end of the contest and was awarded the prize money of One lakh rupees.

"I would like to tell all Tibetan youngsters that please come on the stage and show your talent, wit and beauty, especially Tibetan girls because they are always hiding their talents," said Tenzin.

Eighteen-year-old, Ngawang Choying from Darjeeling became the first runner-up and was presented with 50,000 rupees and twenty-four-year-old Dolkar from Dehradun became the second runner-up and was awarded with 25,000 rupees.

The eighth edition of Miss Tibet-2009 beauty pageant began here on Friday, with just four participants. According to the director of the event, initially there were seven applicants but later on three withdrew due to personal reasons.

Dolkar, Ngawang Choying, Tenzin Choezom and Yeshi Lhamo from Bir in Himachal Pradesh were the four participants.

The three-day contest began with the swimsuit round on the first day followed by other intellectual and allied rounds.

On the second day participants were seen espousing the Tibetan cause in their talk round followed by a talent round.

Miss Tibet 2009 Starts Tomorrow

Four Tibetan beauties would sashay along the stage in the 'Miss Tibet-2009' beauty pageant that would begin here from June 5.

The participants namely Dolkar from Dehradun, Ngawang Choying from Darjeeling, Tenzin Choezom from Dharamsala and Yeshi Lhamo from Bir in Himachal Pradesh would compete in the beauty contest.

The contestants, presently in Dharamsala, are being provided training in Yoga, dance, make-up and personality development.

They will also be provided orientation on Tibetan history, language, philosophy, current affairs, the human rights and environment situation in Tibet as well.

The Director of Miss Tibet pageant, Lobsang Wangyal told reporters that the 100 thousand Tibetans living in India belong to conservative society and hence the lesser number of participants in the event.

"Tibetan society is very conservative society. So it is not easy for young women to come forward and be themselves. They are always afraid of what and who will say behind them, the name taking... all this. So they cannot take such things and they face such things," said Lobsang Wangyal, Director, Miss Tibet-2009 Beauty Pageant.

Tenzin Choezom, the 20-year-old participant said that she wants to be inspiration for other Tibetan women.

" I want to be an example for the youth that if I can participate in this competition then they (other Tibetans) can also participate in this competition," she added.

The three-day competition would begin with swim suit round followed by intellectual rounds on their art of articulation and allied other talents.rowning and presentation of the prize money of one lakh rupees to the winner would be held during finale on June 7.

Evening gown, traditional costume and interview would also be held on the last day.

The first runner-up will be presented with 50,000 rupees while the second runner-up and would be given 25,000 rupees.

The fourth contestant will receive a token prize of 5,000 rupees.

Lobsang Wangyal Productions started the pageant in 2002 when a majority of the four short-listed girls backed out facing flak from community leaders.onetheless, the pageant has survived through the years, at times witnessing only a single participant.

The pageant has had its share of successes and failures on the international stage due to objections by Beijing.

Miss Nude South Africa

In case you haven't heard yet, there is another unique beauty pageant that is taking place in South Africa. If most of us love to see beauty candidates in their evening gowns and swimwears, I doubt if you can appreciate these things in the Miss NUDE South Africa.

Yes, this is a pageant which requires candidates in their birthday suits. This is organized by Sexpo.

As expected there are Christian protesters gathered outside Cape Town Convention Centre where the pageant will be taking place to denounce it. But the pageant organizer rejected claims that the event exploited women

"We are all here by our own choice: no-one's been forced to be here," said a topless Bella Anderson at her stall in the expo.

"I mean, I love sitting here... I enjoy this. It's not like I'm a prostitute or anything.

"I'm just enjoying the fact that I'm a woman first of all, and second of all I'm using my womanly side and my femininity... to have fun with people.

"It's not like I'm sleeping with anyone or doing bad things."

Anderson, who is conducting lap dancing workshops at Sexpo, said she hoped visitors to the event would leave more comfortable with who they were, rather than worrying about what other people said.

Spokesperson for the Christian Action Network Taryn Hodgson said Christians believed sex was a gift from God and should be expressed only within the confines of marriage.

"We shouldn't take something that's private and personal and make it public," she said.

She also said it was outrageous that an industry that promoted the "objectification and exploitation" of women should be given space at a premier tourist destination in the heart of the city.