A crowning moment for Tibet

Wrenched off the world map more than 50 years ago, Tibet was thrown in front of flashing cameras today when Dolma Tsering was crowned the first Miss Tibet.

	Miss Tibet show comes under fire
NAGPUR: Tibet’s PM-in-exile Samdong Rimpoche on Sunday criticised Miss Tibet, the beauty pageant recently staged by Tibetan women in Dharmasala. ‘‘It’s most unfortunate. It’s the most unpleasant influence from the West that Gandhi once termed a Satanic civilisation,’’ he said. ‘‘But I am not disheartened. This is a temporary phase. The youngsters will come back to their traditions,” the Rimpoche, who was here as chief guest for the RSS’ Dussehra function, added. (ENS) Story continues below this ad

Dolma, the only one among the four contestants to have been born in Tibet, was crowned by Ama Adhe, who survived 28 years in a Chinese prison before fleeing to Dharamshala. Flashbulbs popped and crackers burst at the TIPA auditorium as the world’s attention was wrested for the cause of freedom.

An early crowd favourite, Dolma’s speech on her favourite Tibetan king and the Dalai Lama coupled with her confidence wowed the audience. She took the lead in the catwalk round when she walked out on a nearly drenched day.

The crowd, spread across the floor, asked for more as the aspiring model pirouetted and smiled. She cemented the lead in the traditional costumes round. The question-answer round put her beyond all competition. Judge Tikka Rani Shelja Katoch asked what she would do if crowned. Tsering said she would be a role model for her country’s youth, an ideal East-West blend. Dolma had walked for 21 days when she was 8 to reach India.

No one forgot the beauty pageant was more about Tibet than anything else. From introductions of contestants to questions asked, Tibet cropped up in everything. And a visitor from the US set the donation box ringing by gifting $100.