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In 1994, Deepmala Kharel Dhakal’s mother competed in the first Miss Nepal beauty pageant. Thirty-two years later, the Nepali-Hongkonger is preparing to follow in her footsteps.
The 23-year-old was crowned Miss Nepal Hong Kong International on Thursday. Victory at the event guarantees entrance into the national competition later this year.
Born and raised in Hong Kong, Kharel Dhakal has an impressive resume. She landed a job as an investment strategist with BlackRock after graduating from the University of Hong Kong in 2024. That same year, she was appointed to the Zubin Foundation’s Diversity List, which identifies high-calibre individuals from the city’s ethnic minority groups who could serve on advisory and statutory bodies.
“I want to carry the spirits of Hong Kong Nepalese, and not just their spirits. I want to showcase the Hong Kong Nepalese culture and … values,” she said following the coronation.
Speaking afterwards, she said that growing up in Hong Kong as a “third culture kid” – someone who grows up in a culture different from their parents – she often had to look to Nepal to find role models who shared her background.
She said she hoped to raise awareness about the contributions the Nepalese community had made to Hong Kong and expressed gratitude to those who had come out to support her.
“It’s wonderful to have everyone in this room and to just know they gathered not for me, but to support someone from the community. I think that’s really powerful,” she said.
The local beauty pageant has been a fixture in the community for over a decade, but the 2026 edition was the first under its new title, Miss Nepal Hong Kong International, following an organisational restructure.
For Kharel Dhakal, the next few months will bring rigorous preparation for the national stage.
Winning the Miss Nepal Hong Kong title granted her the right to compete in the national beauty pageant, whose winner goes on to represent Nepal at major international competitions such as Miss World.
Her ultimate goal is to represent her country on the world stage, she said.
“We’re not a developed country. Sometimes we feel like we can’t do what other countries do,” she said.
“My eye is on Miss World, and I want to give every Nepalese that moment of faith and joy and hope that we can stand neck and neck with any other country.”
Signing off,
Connor Mycroft
Reporter, Hong Kong
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