SATV Kathmandu Aug 31: Luna Luitel was crowned Miss Nepal World 2025 at the finale of the beauty pageant’s 30th edition held at the Godavari Sunrise Convention Centre in Lalitpur on Saturday.

The country’s foremost beauty pageant featured four main titles this year—Miss Nepal World, Miss Nepal Cosmo, Miss Nepal International and Miss Nepal Earth.

Deepshikha Nepal bagged the Miss Nepal Cosmo title in what is the first time the Miss Cosmo franchise has been integrated into the Miss Nepal platform. Founded in 2023, Miss Cosmo held its debut edition in Vietnam in 2024.

Similarly, Urusha Bhandari was crowned Miss Nepal International, while Sony Ghale was crowned Miss Nepal Earth.

In addition to the four main crowns, contestants were awarded with 14 subtitles, ranging from intellectual to personality-based recognitions. Shruti Maharjan was awarded The Kathmandu Post Miss Intellectual title, while Bhandari won Miss Popular Choice and Miss Timeless Elegance. Aarati Thapa secured the title of Miss Healthy Skin, and Jagadishwori Shah was named Miss Green Visionary. Pragika Kshetree took home the title of Miss Confident.

Meanwhile, Luitel, the newly crowned Miss Nepal World, also bagged the Miss DHI title. Smriti Shrestha won both Miss Photogenic and Face of the Year titles, and Nilima Pandey was recognised as Woman with the Wings. Priyanka Thapa received Miss Pristine title, while Shristi Kumari Tamang was honoured with Miss Beauty with a Purpose. Nepal, the Miss Nepal Cosmo, also won Miss Empowered Choices, and Saichchha Thapa took home Miss Beautiful Hair.

The competition’s judges included The Hidden Treasure Chairman Ajay Ratna Sthapit, Miss Nepal World 2018 Shrinkhala Khatiwada, Himalaya Television Chairman Shyam Kandel, actress Anna Sharma, Kantipur Media Group CEO Mahesh Swar, Areta Public Relations CEO Ruchi Pandey, Cimex Inc CEO Shahil Shrestha, Miss Nepal Earth 2018 Priya Sigdel, Mr Nepal 2023 Samarpan Jung Karki, Dr Sristee Shrestha Prajapati, and designer Manish Rai.

The finale featured a top-12 round that narrowed the contestants to the final four. The questions asked to the contestants covered a range of topics from surrogacy to climate change and AI. The final four contestants—Luitel, Bhandari, Ghale, and Nepal—all faced the same question: “If you could change one perception about beauty and pageantry, what would it be and why?”

Luitel, 26, who has a background in nursing and is currently pursuing a postgraduate degree in Public Health at the University of Sydney, impressed the judges with her emphasis on valuing inner beauty and purpose. She argued that beauty pageants should not be reduced to physical appearance but instead should be recognised as platforms to drive meaningful causes.

Luitel said she believes in the principle of ‘Learn, Earn and Return’ and expressed her intent to use her title to advocate for social issues and community service. Luitel is no stranger to the world of beauty pageants, having previously won the first runner-up title of Miss Teen Nepal in 2015.

Her fellow contestants also brought forward strong perspectives. Nepal, the Miss Nepal Cosmo, argued that beauty pageants “do not objectify women but instead celebrate femininity in all its forms.” She added that pageants celebrate the coexistence of strength and softness.

Meanwhile, Miss Nepal Earth Ghale said that the platform is not only about external beauty but also about intellect and advocacy, describing Miss Nepal as an avenue that amplifies the voice of the voiceless.

Meanwhile, Miss Nepal International Bhandari underlined the transformative nature of pageantry, calling it a revolution in itself. She added that beauty pageants can cultivate leaders and contribute to building a more inclusive and beautiful world.

This year’s Miss Nepal also unveiled a new set of crowns. Until last year, winners were presented with golden crowns, which were used consistently from 2016 to 2024. For the 30th edition, Shree Natraj Jewellers crafted diamond crowns, marking a shift in design and symbolism.

Before passing on her crown, Miss Nepal World 2024 Ashma Kumari KC expressed gratitude for the honour and responsibility of serving in the role and acknowledged the personal and professional opportunities the platform had brought her.