Miss Pokhara (Nepali: मिस पोखरा) is a beauty pageant that began in 1995 for the women of Gandaki Province, Nepal.[1] Miss Pokhara has been organized by Pokhara Jaycees since the start and has been a paved way to the field of a professional modeling career. Miss Pokhara winner gets direct entry to the national beauty pageant like Miss Nepal, Miss Universe Nepal, Miss Grand Nepal and Miss National Nepal.[2]
Miss Personality: Nilima Gurung (1997), Richa Thapa Magar (2009)
Miss Photogenic: Kripa Shrestha (1999), Mohini Rana (2005)
Miss Popular Choice: Anjana Pun (2024)
Miss Stylish: Sonie Rajbhandari (2014)
Miss Talent: Anita Gurung (2004), Richa Thapa Magar (2009), Sipora Gurung (2013), Puja Shrestha (2015), Unnati Gurung (2023)
Titleholders
Color key
Declared as winner
Ended as runner-up
Ended as one of the finalists or semifinalists
Miss Pokhara represents her city at Miss Nepal pageant. Since 1995, Miss Pokhara has been appointed to send its winner to Miss Nepal but during 2000 till 2013 there was no Miss Pokhara beauty pageant; however, one or two delegates were sent to Miss Nepal contest as the representative of Pokhara. The reigning Miss Pokhara 2024 is Shristi Khadka and she has a direct entry to Miss Nepal 2025[3]
Note: In 2014, Prinsha Shrestha who was the original 1st runner up title got dethroned from her title of Miss Nepal Earth 2014 for breaching the rules from her contract. Sonie Rajbhandari Miss Pokhara 2014, the 2nd runner up was then awarded as the new Miss Nepal Earth 2014 title.
History
The pageant has been run by Pokhara Jaycees,[2] the sister branch to Kathmandu Jaycees which runs the Miss Nepal pageant, since 1994.[19] Rita Gurung was crowned as the first Miss Pokhara, who ended up as first runner-up in the Miss Nepal 1995 beauty pageant when Pokhara did its debut with a high placement.
Only Nilima Gurung has won the Miss Nepal crown in 1997, so far being the only Miss Pokhara to win the crown of Miss Nepal. Miss Pokhara has the second highest number of placements after Miss Kathmandu in Miss Nepal pageant and is ranked second highest among regional contests in terms of placements.[citation needed]