My Idol: Shrinkhala Khatiwada
- Nemaste Nepal
- Nov 3, 2021
- 3 min read
The first time I heard about was when my dad told me she had made it into the top 30 Miss world, all the way back in 2018. I was quite surprised. Although, I hold Nepal very close to my heart, I had not expected the country to be represented in this way to the world, much less in a beauty pageant where more than 100 countries participated.
I’d heard of so many popular names from India, a neighbouring country to Nepal, in which women who had won beauty pageants and went on to dominate the world; Aishwarya Rai and Priyanka Chopra are a few names that immediately come to mind. Thus, small countries like Nepal can often be overshadowed.
When my dad mentioned Shrinkhala’s emerging success, I was quite intrigued and excited. I watched her introduction video and was immediately captivated.
Simple and beautiful- and there was a calm presence to her voice.
I was not a big follower of the beauty pageants so I had not really seen many introduction videos, but the way Shrinkhala captured the beauty of Nepal while simultaneously describing herself fascinated me. On top of that, learning that she was top of the class in her major, architecture, she immediately earned my respect - for it is a hard subject for a science major like myself.
After her journey for the Miss World pageant, Shrinkhala has done many things to aid Nepal. For instance, together with Bipin Gaire, the founder of Urban Space, they have introduced this new housing concept in Lalitpur, Nepal. Essentially, this is a “new innovative and democratic concept of housing. People are bound by walls and limited within their own space. But in Urban Space, one can enjoy a wider communal space by sharing small spaces of their own.”
According to Shiv Kandel, the Chief Branding Officer of Urban Space,
“Urban Space envisions the boundary-less society especially in city areas and therefore it’s a global movement for not only urban planners but also for wider audiences who deeply believe in the Sustainable Development Goals and envision sustainable cities and communities.”
She also uses her online platform to educate and voice her concerns and opinions. In one video she posted on Instagram during the beginning of the pandemic, she asked for help regarding the stranded migrant workers at the border between Nepal and India. She communicated her message very well to the audience. She reached the emotional side of people by talking about how these migrant workers “have not eaten in multiple days, (are) sleeping in jungles…they are not offered food and water or any kind of comfort or place to sleep” when they arrive in Nepal. Further, she discusses a plan of action; “if someone can manufacture packaged food, we need to get it there. If someone can provide water bottles, we need to get it there,” where the migrants can come and pick it up.
She was able to connect with me, communicate the problem very effectively to me, and in a short period of time, make me truly care.
She has a very powerful way of communicating - one I would like to adapt away from my “uhms” and “ahs”.
Recently, she posted on Instagram, letting us know that she had gotten into Harvard University Graduate School of Design, Masters in Urban Planning. Her motivation to achieve more is truly an inspiration. Shrinkhala is a beautiful, kind, and intelligent woman who has become a popular personality in Nepal and with Nepalese around the world. I hope to see more powerful women like her, representing Nepal all around the globe. In fact, I hope I can be one of these women that young girls around the world look up to.
Sincerely,
Kusum Sharma
References
1. Thapa, R. (2020, May 28). Miss Nepal Shrinkhala calls for action to help migrant workers stranded at Nepal-India border. Retrieved from https://thehimalayantimes.com/nepal/miss-nepal-shrinkhala-calls-for-action-to-help-migrant-workers-stranded-at-nepal-india-border
2. Urban Space introducing European standard town housing in Nepal. (2021, April 27). Retrieved from https://english.khabarhub.com/2021/27/179918/
Miss Nepal - unforgettable speech of Shrinkhala khatiwada:
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