http://www.business-standard.com/article/news-ians/tenzin-yangzom-wins-miss-tibet-2014-crown-unopposed-114060301422_1.html
Tibetan contestant Tenzin Yangzom from Sikkim will be crowned Miss Tibet 2014 here June 8, an event organiser said here Tuesday. Yangzom won the pageant unopposed.
"We received eight applications for this year's pageant. Five were confirmed, but four withdrew at the last minute citing personal reasons," pageant director-producer Lobsang Wangyal told IANS.
"Since the Miss Tibet Pageant is to empower young Tibetan women, we see it important to respect and appreciate the commitment and enthusiasm of the lone contestant," he added.
It is the fourth time that the pageant has seen only one contestant for the crown. This is the second consecutive year with only one contestant, and this occurred in two earlier editions in 2003 and 2005.
Yangzom, 23, had prepared well and was ready for the competition. After she was informed that she was the only contestant she wondered why the others dropped out, and why there were not more contestants.
She has recently completed her B.Ed from Bangalore. She is multi-lingual and likes dancing, basketball, singing, painting and photography.
"Miss Tibet can voice the worsening human rights situation in Tibet through national and international forums and gain worldwide support," she said.
The Miss Tibet contest started in 2002, amid mixed response from the exiles. Since then it's held every year, except in 2012 owing to large number of self-immolations in Tibet over China's harsh measures.
Many, including the government-in-exile, opposed the pageant and held it to be against Tibetan tradition.
The Miss Tibet pageant faces even Chinese's ire, as winners participate in international pageants.
Despite that, the pageant has gained huge popularity among the exiled Tibetans.
Wangyal said: "The winners of the contest have represented Tibet internationally - twice in Miss Earth in the Philippines and once in Miss Asia Pacific World.
Tenzin Yangzom looks on during her Coronation Ceremony as Miss Tibet 2014
with her mother and Sikyong (equivalent to Prime Minister) of the Tibetan Government-in-Exile Lobsang Sangay
Pageant Director Lobsang Wangyal, Miss Tibet 2011 Tenzin Yangkyi and Miss Tibet 2014 Tenzin Yangzom take centre stage for the coronation ceremony.