Deepmala Dhakal won the Miss Nepal World 2026 title during the grand finale Saturday at The Plaza Pulchowk in Lalitpur.
Dhakal, 23, advanced from a field of 24 contestants to the final six before taking the crown. Arya Nishant was named Miss Nepal International, while Kashish Subba received the Miss Nepal Cosmo title.
The three winners will represent Nepal at their respective international competitions.
Born in Hong Kong, Dhakal is a nonresident Nepali and also holds the Miss Nepal Hong Kong title. She serves as second-generation coordinator for the Non-Resident Nepali Association.
The association elected Dhakal to the post during its convention in the Nepali month of Chaitra.
Tears ran down Dhakal’s face after the announcement. Her mother, Roshani Kharel, also cried while watching from the audience.
Kharel competed in Nepal’s first Miss Nepal pageant in 1994, when beauty contests were new to the country. Three decades later, she watched her daughter win the title she had once pursued.
A global media for the latest news, entertainment, music fashion, and more.
