Kathmandu, May 18: Anmol Rai, a transwoman, has won the title of Miss Pink Nepal 2024, qualifying for the Miss International Queen 2024 scheduled to take place in Thailand on August 24. She received a cash prize of Rs 100,000. The total 18 contestants participated. Saroji Neupane finished the first runner-up, and Arohi Basnet the second runner-up. Neupane received a cash prize of Rs 75,000, and Basnet Rs 50,000.
Organised by Neel Hira Samaj (Blue Diamond Society (BDS)), Miss Pink Nepal was held to observe the the International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia, Interphobia, Transphobia and Aphobia, and raise awareness regarding the sexual and gender minorities, said BDS. May 17 marks the day the World Health Organization removed homosexuality from its list of mental illnesses.
BDS, founded by Sunil Babu Pant, Asia’s first openly gay former parliamentarian of Nepal, had previously been organising the Miss Pink pageant on May 17, coinciding with WHO’s decision. But, this year it was organised on a different date. Some have raised concerns about Pant’s absence from the event, as he was reportedly not invited for the pageant.
Those who made it to the top ten included Sammagri Bogati, Basnet, Rai, Pallabi Magar, Priyanka Neupane, Sayara Gurung, Abina Katawal, Lakmi Giri, Saroji and Sudeep Subba.
The top five contestants included Subba, Rai, Priyanka, Saroji and Basnet.
Among the participants, Giri was the only one who identified herself as a third gender woman. All the remaining contestants identified themselves as transgender. The term ‘third gender’ was not used by the host throughout the event, contradicting with past practices.
