Changing Face of Beauty Pageants in Nepal

Originating in the USA in 1880 as a beauty contest and formalized as a beauty pageant in 1921 by the merchants of New Jersey to prolong the tourist season at a seaside resort, beauty pageants have now become a global phenomenon. Often described as a platform that combines “beauty and brains,” these pageants evoke diverse opinions. Many praise them for promoting holistic development and providing exposure to participants, while others criticise them as commercial ventures exploiting femininity.