Himal Press 
KATHMANDU: Deepmala Dhakal has been crowned Miss Nepal World 2026.
At a Miss Nepal beauty pageant held in Lalitpur on Saturday, Deepmala saw him the challenges from Arya Nishant and Kashish Subba to win the coveted title. Nishant was crowned Miss Nepal International, while Subba secured the Miss Nepal Cosmo title.
Deepmala will now represent Nepal at the prestigious Miss World pageant. Nishant and Subba will go on to represent the country at Miss International and Miss Cosmo, respectively.
Along with the title, Deepmala also the BYD Miss Green Visionary and Nepal Medicity Miss Health and Harmony awards
As applause echoed across the hall following her crowning, tears rolled down Deepmala’s eyes. In the audience, her mother, Roshani Kharel, shared the same emotion. While the crown was placed on the daughter’s head, it was also the fulfillment of a mother’s long-cherished dream.
Deepmala’s story is not merely about winning the title of Miss Nepal; it is also about an unfinished dream in her family that has finally been realized. Three decades ago, when the first Miss Nepal pageant was held, Roshani Kharel had also been a contestant.
Back then, Roshani had quietly participated in the pageant, informing only one of her sisters, because beauty pageants were not as accepted by society as they are today. Today, the whole family stood united in support of Deepmala. Times have changed, and so has awareness and acceptance across generations.
Roshani had once stepped onto the stage with dreams of showcasing her abilities and personality. But life led her down a different path. The pageant ended and time passed. She built a family, and responsibilities grew. However, the dream remained in a corner of her heart.
A remarkable coincidence added another layer to the story. During the first Miss Nepal, Roshani had drawn contestant number 17. Years later, Deepmala drew the same number. For the family, it was an amusing coincidence. But by the end of the competition, that number had turned historic. The mother’s unfulfilled dream was crowned on the daughter’s head.
Deepmala’s story begins in Hong Kong and reconnects with Nepal. Born 23 years ago in Hong Kong to engineer Surendra Kumar Dhakal, who runs a construction company, and manager Roshani Kharel, she is their youngest daughter. Her elder sister, Soyana, also works at an investment firm in Hong Kong where the family currently resides.
Deepmala had a promising career at BlackRock, one of the world’s leading investment management companies. At a young age, she had a secure job as an investment analyst with high income and global opportunities. However, one question kept returning to her: if given a chance to stand on the global stage, which country would she represent? The answer was always the same—Nepal.
Even while living in Hong Kong, she held onto her Nepali passport as her strongest identity. She could have participated in beauty pageants. But she chose Nepal. She had been preparing to participate in the Miss Nepal 2025 pageant. However, as she was completing her application, she suffered a serious leg injury at work and was advised to rest.
But the setback did not deter Deepmala. She utilized the time for preparation. She strengthened her confidence and returned stronger. This time, she came not just to participate, but to prove her potential.
While some still view Miss Nepal as merely a contest of fashion and glamour, the reality is far deeper. It is a platform that tests personality, life experience, leadership, communication skills, social awareness, discipline, time management, and decision-making under pressure.
She has been actively involved in the Non-Resident Nepali community as a youth coordinator. She has been working to connect young Nepalis abroad with their language, culture and identity. She has also served as a brand ambassador for Nepal Cancer Hospital.
Today, millions of Nepalis live around the world. Many of them have achieved success abroad. But remembering one’s roots is as important as achieving success in the world arena. Deepmala is among the few Nepalis who embody this message.
