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SHAVONA SHRESTHA-Dabur Vatika Miss Nepal 2005/06 |
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 Shavona
Shrestha, our very own Miss Nepal First Runner-up (2005/06) is a confident
young lady, besides being a true beauty queen. With her beauty and talent,
she has won the hearts of many, not only here in Nepal but all over the
Asia-Pacific region. After all, she has won not only one, but two prestigious
titles of Miss Beautiful Face and Top10 Viewer's Choice in the Miss Earth
Contest 2005 too. Currently studying Social Work, Shavona also aims to become
a successful entrepreneur apart from a social worker to carry on her family
tradition of handling business with social work. Our best wishes are with
her for her future endeavors. Here’s what she has to say about herself,
her childhood and her experience and her future plans.....
How
has your life changed after the Miss Nepal 2005 happened to you?
Well, a frequently asked question this is! There's not much difference really.
Of course, there have been some changes like recognition and availability
of numerous job opportunities if I want them, now. There are advantages
.....
Walking on the road
is surely not the same now..., is it?
Yeah.... I can hear ‘Oh Miss Nepal!’ |
| Apart from winning the title of the Dabur
Vatika Miss Nepal First Runner-up 2005, did you win any other titles in
the contest? |
| Yes, Best Personality. |
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| How was your experience, as a contestant?
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| It was much more than what I'd expected. Initially, I only saw the glamour
factor in such contests but as the training sessions progressed, I realized
that there was more like personality development and career development
too...I couldn't even speak like this before, you know- I learnt to express
myself well. |
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| As the Miss Nepal First Runner-up 2005,
where did you have to represent Nepal? |
| I represented Nepal in the Miss Earth Contest held in the Philippines
last year. There, I won 2 titles; Miss Beautiful Face and Top10 Viewer's
Choice. |
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| How did you present yourself as a Nepali
in the Miss Earth Contest? |
| I did various things..I performed in a Nepali lokgeet- a Tamangselo. Also,
I dressed as a Kumari in the national costume round. Besides, I wore sari
in most of the occasions-they used to wonder how it went round....they were
very cute about that! |
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| Who/what inspired you to participate in
the Miss Nepal Contest? |
| My boyfriend. |
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| Did your parents support your decision
right away? |
| No they didn't in the beginning, especially my father. But gradually with
time, they understood what I wanted and so they approved. Now that I've
won the title, they're proud of me and are glad they took the correct decision.
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| Had you ever thought or dreamt of participating
in the Miss Nepal contest? |
| No, it was an overnight decision. There're people who plan to or dream
of participating and winning the title, and start their preparation months
before the contest, but I didn't. I just looked at the billboard and asked
my boyfriend if I should participate-I got a positive answer and so I went
for it. For me, it was a last moment decision and I didn't have any firsthand
preparation too |
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| Tell us something about your academic qualification. |
| I did my schooling from Triyog High School, my SLC from Little Angels,
+2 from Ace Institute of Management and now I'm doing BSW at St. Xavier's
College. I did study at Malpi too after my +2, but I quit because I didn't
want to continue there. |
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| Are you doing anything besides studying,
like getting into the media? |
| No..nothing in the media line, except for giving interviews- that's about
it. No ads, no music videos. Other Miss Nepal title holders usually get
involved in the media but not me..I want to focus on my studies. My parents
won't like me doing ads or videos either. Not in Nepal unless it's very
nice or my family does it. Yea, I'm planning to be in Calcutta Fashion Week
but I'm not really sure about it. |
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| Not in Nepal? What about being involved
in the media abroad? |
| Outside Nepal, yes. Because I don't see any future here, frankly speaking...
I don't like it here-no fakeness in it. |
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| Why social work? |
| There's no definition why social work- I just felt like it. I had so many
other options ..other colleges wanted me to join there with full scholarship
but I didn't think of it much. I decided to do BSW in St. Xavier's because
it's the best in the country. Besides, I come from a family that has been
involved in social work. My grand-dad, Trailokya Nath Shrestha was an entepreneur
and a social worker who won awards like Gorkha Dakshin Bahu and all. My
mom is also a social worker. It's a mixture of business and social family
background. And, I want to do that too. |
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| Then, what is your ambition at this stage
of your life? |
| I aim to become a successful professional social worker I guess- the plan
is to work in INGOs/NGOs-let's see how it goes. Or maybe, a businesswoman
or modelling abroad ... it's very unpredictable! |
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| Have you been involved in any special programmes
or social organisations? |
| Yes, there'd been many tree plantations and awareness programmes, in the
Phillipines. I am the goodwill ambassador of the Cancer Relief Society too.
Also, I have my responsibilities entrusted to me by the Miss Nepal Organization-
Hidden Treasure, as I still hold my title because the Miss Nepal Contest
didn't take place this year. |
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| How do you think you can make some kind
of contribution to the society as an individual? |
| Not individually. I don't think an individual can change things... things
change gradually. I need a community or a group to take the initiative. |
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| Do you have any role model- someone who
inspires you? |
| No. So many people ask this question but when I go back home and think
about it, there's no one, actually! |
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| Something about your childhood? |
| Oh- as a child, I was very tomboyish! I had more guy friends- I preferred
them more; I didn't like being dainty or feminine. But after my (cyst) surgery,
I changed drastically, turning feminine. That's how I also missed an academic
year. I am also a Karate brown belt, influenced by my father who's a black
belt. |
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| What about getting a black belt? |
| No, my boyfriend is already scared!! |
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| What about your interests? |
| I like dancing and performing on stage. I had recently performed with
my boyfriend in an event called Bollywood Nights organized by the Active
Women of Nepal. We performed in a medley.... duet in Boley Chudiyan, my
classical solo in Devdas ... It was a programme organized by people I knew
and we had performed for charity. |
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| If you had to scale yourself in percents,
how much would you give to your beauty and how much to your brain? |
| 50% beauty and 50% brains!! |
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| Any last words or message? |
| Stay safe, love you always. Thank you! |
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By Priyata Thapa |
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