Bhutan to make Grand Slam debut competing in Miss Universe

If Shangri-La existed in the XXI century, it must be located in Bhutan! With a pristine mountain environment, fairy-tale clifftop monasteries, and a famous preference for Gross National Happiness over Gross National Product, the last Himalayan kingdom has managed to conserve its unique and peaceful Buddhist identity.

But where do beauty pageants stand in this magical kingdom?

In 2022, the Miss Bhutan pageant celebrates only its 3rd edition (the other two were held in 2008 and 2010), and its Miss Universe and Grand Slam debut. Bhutan, a nation that has continually been ranked as the happiest country in all of Asia, and one of the Top 10 Happiest Countries in the world, according to Business Week, has been mostly historically closed to the outside world. It has never entered a Grand Slam competition in over 70 years.

By competing in Miss Universe, this “happy land” shows that it´s willing to give the first steps towards opening up to the rest of the planet.

According to the organizer Karma Tshering, he had been contacting the Miss Universe organization since the inception of the Miss Bhutan Competition, 14 years ago.

“As an organizer of the Miss Bhutan pageant, I had to sit for a couple of qualification interviews. The last was held on May 4. The interview lasted for an hour with the franchise director. And then finally Bhutan got through and that’s the big news I want to share with the nation,” said Karma Tshering, the Organiser of Miss Bhutan Pageant.

He added that the support from the Prime Minister and his recommendation letter played a big part in getting the country accepted.

The beauty pageant had its preliminary round a few days ago, to select the candidates to go through to the next round.

“The previous Miss Bhutan could not go anywhere. But this time whoever takes the crown will get a chance to go to Miss Universe which is going to be a huge plus,” said Anita Limbo, one of the contestants in the pageant.

An overwhelming number of more than 300 young women registered for the selection process. The Grand finale of the competition is expected to be held on May 22.

Welcome, Bhutan!

Special thanks to www.bbs.bt