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 kicks off with swimsuit round

Dharamsala, June 5 - First phase of a three-day Miss Tibet beauty pageant competition kickstarted with a swimsuit round at a resort here this afternoon.

The competition started with four contestants Dolkar, 24, from Dehra Dun; Ngawang Choying, 18, from Darjeeling; Tenzin Choezom, 20, from Dharamsala and Yeshi Lhamo, 24, from Bir, performing a ramp show in skimpy swimwear around a mini swimming pool of Asian Health Resort here.

The participants contested for 10 points judged by five jury members for their figure, skin, posture and poise.

A handful of public enthusiasts willing to spare 200 rupees for a not more than 30-minute show turned up to watch, what has been described by many in the exile Tibetan community as, the “most daring” part of the beauty pageant.

A strong media presence, including documentary filmmakers, however, dominated the scene of today’s competition round.

Scores from six more competition rounds in the next two days will add up to decide the final crowning of this year’s Tibetan beauty on the grand finale night on Sunday at the Tibetan Institute of Performing Arts (TIPA).

The Presentation and talent rounds will be held Saturday at TIPA.

Lobsang's Miss Tibet pageant is small but has been fairly controversial too. Since it was first started by Lobsang Wangyal Productions in 2002, the exile Tibetan community has reacted with quiet mixed feelings and attitude.

Not surprisingly, the contest has also irritated the Chinese, whose troops began occupying Tibet in 1949. In the past winners of Miss Tibet were forced to withdraw from international beauty pageants after objections from the Chinese government. This has given Miss Tibet its much needed media attention and with it its share of success on the international stage.

At times, however, the pageant struggled itself to survive witnessing only a single participant.

Nevertheless, Lobsang has remained adamant with a pledge to take his one-man show to greater heights all along the way.

“My Miss Tibet show is already eight years old now,” Lobsang delights over the successive continuation of his pageant.

And this year, he has added one more flavour to his show- Dinner with Miss Tibet.

“It is going to be more interesting this time,” Lobsang says of his newly conceived idea, which he says will help him to cash in little more funds for his production unit.

“There is lottery tickets on sale and one winner will be drawn from the lots for an exclusive dinner with winner of this year’s Miss Tibet title. The lottery ticket is priced at Rupees fifty. And the winner can bring along one companion,” Lobsang explains.

“And it is going to be a grand dinner with Miss Tibet 2009 at Mcllo Restaurant & Bar,” Lobsang confirms.

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 Tibet Attracts Only 2 Contestants

Is this your first time to hear a beauty pageant with only two contestants? Yes, Miss Tibet can't get more contestants because this small territory is very conservative. The pageant has to go on. At least there is a pageant of this kind unlike in Nepal where it has to be canceled because of a pressure and threats from the Maoists.

Here is an article coming from newpostonline.com

Miss Tibet 2008 beauty pageant attracts only two contestants

Two Tibetan damsels will compete in the Miss Tibet 2008 beauty pageant starting here on October 12.

The names of the only two participants will be disclosed on Sunday.

Tibetans say that current unrest in Tibet and their extremely conservative society are factors responsible for the poor response.

“From my point of view, at least I can imagine something that probably because of the recent unrest in Tibet, starting March and then it continued in throughout April, May, June. There isn’t any an atmosphere for celebrations within Tibetan society. So I think Tibetan girls are shying away from that,” said Lobsang Wangyal, Director Miss Tibet Pageant.

Wangyal added that continuation of Miss Tibet beauty pageant would definitely help in improving Tibetan society.

The winner will receive 100,000 rupees, while the runners-up will receive 50,000 rupees.

Dolma Tseringkyi, Miss Tibet 2003 agrees that traditional values and the political unrest is preventing Tibetan girls from participating in the event.

“It’s really very disappointing that there are only two ladies this year. One thing is the social pressure and the other is the traditional thinking,” she said.

Tseringkyi represented Tibet in Miss Tourism World contests in Malaysia and Mexico, winning the Miss Goodwill and best National Costumes titles respectively.

Miss Tibet 2006 was able to enter the Miss Earth 2006 competition in the Philippines.

Lobsang Wangyal Productions started the pageant in 2002 when a majority of the four short-listed girls backed out facing flak from community leaders. 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.