Exiled Tibetan beauties raring to go for Miss Tibet contest

Five Tibetan damsels proudly paraded themselves before cameras here ahead of the October 12 Miss Tibet beauty pageant 2007.The five final contestants are Deeki Dolma 20, Tenzing Dolma 25 from Gangtok (Sikkim), Tenzin Pema 19 from Dehradun, Tsering Yangzom 20 from Karnataka and Tenzin Dolma 21 from Dharamshala.

Dharamshala, Oct 6 : Five Tibetan damsels proudly paraded themselves before cameras here ahead of the October 12 Miss Tibet beauty pageant 2007.The five final contestants are Deeki Dolma 20, Tenzing Dolma 25 from Gangtok (Sikkim), Tenzin Pema 19 from Dehradun, Tsering Yangzom 20 from Karnataka and Tenzin Dolma 21 from Dharamshala.

The pageant witnesses a swimsuit round on October 12, a traditional costume round on October 13 and a talent round on October 14.

Interestingly, the beauties will undergo a training programme for one week that includes dance, yoga, catwalk, Tibetan culture orientation, current affairs, environmental issues, music and human rights.

The participants mainly see the beauty pageant as a catwalk for Tibetan cause.

"We are getting chance to represent our country. It is such a huge thing. We need country Tibet on the global platform," said Tenzing Dolma from Sikkim.

"Everybody is very happy. I think that we will have a very good show. All the five stars are all confident, beautiful, elegant and sophisticated," said Lobsang Wangyal, an event organiser.

The contestants will also interact with the Tibetan government-in-exile, NGOs and Tibetan schools in the abode of the Dalai Lama.

The pageant was started by Lobsang Wangyal Productions in 2002 when a majority of the four shortlisted 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 due to objections by Beijing.

Dolma Tsering, Miss Tibet 2003, 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 competition 2006 in the Philippines.

However, Tashi Yangchin, Miss Tibet 2004, was chucked out of the Miss Tourism World in Zimbabwe due to Chinese pressure.

ANI