Miss Universe, Miss World, and Miss Asia Pacific – and
now Miss Tibet. Highly controversial owing to the lack of exposure
and entry into the international foray of beauty pageants –
the Miss Tibet contest has caused a stir in the exiled Tibet Community
owing to the lack of support from the Tibetan Government in Exile
despite an enthusiasm in the community to this event. Last year,
in Dharamshala, India, the 3rd Miss Tibet contest was held and
Miss Tashi Yangchen from Gangtok was crowned. Tashi represented
Tibet in Zimbabwe in the Miss International Tourism contest earlier
this February and was a favorite for the crown. She was removed
from the contest owing to Chinese pressure.
Why do Tibetan girls want to take part in the Miss Tibet contest?
Unlike any other beauty pageants, the contestants don’t
walk away with a thick check, lucrative modeling contracts or
a movie deal. The contest has been identified by these young girls
as a part of identifying the distinctive identity of the Tibetans
and having a role in creating a public face to that separate role.
As a community magazine in New York, Migyul has been keeping track
of events in the Himalayan community in the Himalayas. With repeated
requests from our readers we were lucky to get an interview with
Tashi Yangchen – the current Miss Tibet.
Tashi comes from Gangtok – once again in the Himalayas–
a nice quiet town in Sikkim. Tashi speaks in a number of languages,
including Tibetan and Nepali. Multifaceted – the term “beauty
and brains” seems very applicable here – she holds
a degree in computer science and now is pursuing a MBA degree
in London. However, that does not describe Tashi: she is a down-to-earth
and compassionate person and, through our exchange of emails for
the past months, I am confident that Tibetan women are very well
epitomized in this year’s Miss Tibet.
Could you tell us more about yourself and your background?
Background (Don’t people know by now....heheheh. Anyways...)
Born and brought up in the state known for peace and tranquility,
Sikkim. I believe life should always be a learning process.
Being a typical Aries girl I have always been ambitious. After
completion in software Engineering at Pune University, I was
working in Skims [Philip: is this right?] in the Information
Technology Department in Gangtok for almost two years. At the
moment I am pursuing my MBA in London.
|
I believe if one wants to do something in life there are two
options, one is chance and the other is choice. I always believe
in the latter, as I am a person who feels if you feel good
about what you are doing, does it if not, then just leave
it. |
Tashi Yangchen lak, you mention in your interviews that the
"decision to take part in the Miss Tibet contest was not
by chance, it was by choice, a choice which you made with a firm
head." Could you tell us what you mean by that?
I believe if one wants to do something in life there are two
options, one is chance and the other is choice. I always believe
in the latter, as I am a person who feels if you feel good about
what you are doing, does it if not, then just leave it. So being
a part in the Miss Tibet was earnestly not to win but I strongly
felt that somewhere down the line someone has to make a start
so that smart Tibetan girls will come up and be a part of the
pageant too. For me Miss Tibet Pageant was not only to create
awareness about Tibetan culture but also about the ’Tibet’!
'We should never speculate about things as if we were in the
well but broaden or thinking and look things in a broader perspective.’
I quote these words as there are so many people who do not even
know what is Tibetan, forget the culture. So I really felt that
the pageant has helped a lot in building curiosity among many
who are alien to the term Tibetan.
While you say that your parents were supportive of your
decision, were there others who weren’t, and did it affect
you in anyway?
I do not make any decision in haste and when I make my decision
then I stick with it. My parents have always been supportive
with whatever decision I chose in life as they believe in me.
As long as my parents believe in my decision...the rest doesn't
matter. I don't have to ask the world what to do in life.
 |
|
I did not do all this to gain popularity but I did all this
as I know money is important in life but there's something
more valuable than money in life. I am glad I could show the
kids some happy times...the moment was really very precious
to me and will always be close to my heart. |
As the current Miss Tibet 2004, what will be your role in
this year? What are some of the things that you want to do and
what are some things you have done already to that end?
As far as the prize money is concerned I made sure I used it
for a noble cause that was the first thing I did. It gave me
immense joy to help the needy with the prize money. I made sure
I gave clothes, toys, shoes, food, sweets, cakes etc, to almost
fifty orphan kids in Gangtok. I took some other orphan kids
for a movie along with snacks on children’s day. I even
made sure to donate some funds to various Tibetan organizations
and functions. I did not do all this to gain popularity but
I did all this as I know money is important in life but there's
something more valuable than money in life. I am glad I could
show the kids some happy times...the moment was really very
precious to me and will always be close to my heart. Apart from
this, I was invited as the chief guest for various Tibetan functions
like culture shows, etc. where I had the honor to share my experience.
Do you have to put your other career as a computer engineer
on hold for the time? How has being Miss Tibet changed your other
professional goals?
After I was crowned Miss Tibet I had to hold off my job for
a while as I had various social causes to attend but then I
soon resumed with my daily routine. At the moment I am doing
my MBA from London which was my dream from the start.
|
I seriously feel that the basic foundation for any human being
is education, so it should not only be the duty of the youngsters
to make sure they are educated well but also the teachers
and parents to guide them in every aspect of life. Never make
education a means to earn bread but make it a means to make
your self a better person. |
As a Himalayan icon today, what do you think is needed in
our Himalayan communities in India, Nepal and other areas? How
do you think the youth and others from these areas here in New
York can help to meet this end?
I don't know weather I am an icon or not but thank you for
the honor. I seriously feel that the basic foundation for any
human being is education, so it should not only be the duty
of the youngsters to make sure they are educated well but also
the teachers and parents to guide them in every aspect of life.
Never make education a means to earn bread but make it a means
to make your self a better person. I know everyone of us have
such exceptional hidden talents amongst us so we should take
time to explore it and hence apply it. We have exceptionally
bright, talented and smart youngsters but they should learn
to overcome their awkwardness and the fear of failure which
will inhibit them from realizing their dreams. I just have a
line for all....each one of us are special, feel special and
work towards achieving your goals because nothing is impossible
in this world. All the youths should make sure they meet a certain
level of education which is of prime importance.
