The 31st edition of the Miss Nepal pageant lit up the Godavari Sunrise Convention Centre, where Luna Luitel was elected Miss Nepal World 2025. Luna will represente Nepal at the 73rd Miss World Festival, in 2026. Ashma Kumari, the national winner of 2024, crowned Luna in yesterday’s gala event.

At 26, Luna brings a combination of academic excellence and humanitarian spirit to her triumph. A registered nurse in Australia and currently pursuing a Master’s degree in Public Health at the University of Sydney, she has been guided by the motto “Learn, Earn, and Return.” Exactly 10 years ago, Luna was the 1st runner-up at Miss Teen Nepal 2015.

This year’s edition also honored contestants with various subtitles, celebrating the participants’ achievements in different fields:  

Miss DHI – Luna Luitel; Miss Photogenic & Face of the Year – Smriti Shrestha; Miss Confident – Pragika Kshetri; Miss Beautiful Hair – Saichhya Thapa; Miss Healthy Skin – Aarti Thapa; Miss Green Visionary – Jagdishwari Shah; Miss Beauty with a Purpose – Srushti Tamang; Yeti Woman with Wings – Nilima Pandey; Miss Timeless Elegance & Real Miss Popular Choice – Urusha Bhandari; Miss Empowered Choice – Dipshikha Nepal; The Kathmandu Post Miss Intellectual – Shruti Maharjan; Miss Pristine – Priyanka Thapa.

The defining moment came with the final Q&A, when the four finalists were asked how beauty pageants can shift public perceptions. Luna’s winning response emphasized that pageants must be recognized as platforms for meaningful causes, not just for physical appearance, a sentiment that resonated with both judges and the audience. 

The judging panel featured notable figures including Shrinkhala Khatiwada (Miss Nepal World 2018), actress Anna Sharma, designer Manish Rai, and leading voices from the fields of media and public relations.  

Adding to the night’s excitement, Miss Nepal unveiled its new diamond-studded crowns, crafted by Shree Natraj Jewellers.

Congratulations!