Arya Nishaant, Miss Nepal International 2026, was born and raised in Janakpur. She is a Business Administration graduate and Academic Coordinator by profession.

In this conversation with the Post’s Jony Nepal and Rivash Rijal, Nishaant discusses the friendships forged over high-stakes weeks of training, the exact second her name was called on crowning night, and why, in an industry built on being seen, she still believes the strongest thing a woman can have is a mind of her own.

What has been your biggest inspiration to start your pageantry journey?

My biggest inspirations to join pageantry were the international and national beauty queens I’ve seen growing up. I have seen the way pageantry has changed their lives, the impact they’ve brought to their society, the work they’ve done for other people, and the way they’ve helped others. I think all of that combined inspired me to join pageantry.

What was the most memorable and transformative part of your training sessions? How did you navigate self-improvement, growth, and self-criticism during the process?

I think the most memorable and fun part of our 50-day journey was making friends and spending time with them. We were together 24/7, on calls talking about what to do the next day, what’s happening, and how we could do better.

As for the transformative side, different aspects of us as humans were tested throughout the journey. Our intellect, the way we carry ourselves, how punctual we are, how we manage stress, because the days were long and stressful. We were also given constructive criticism to our faces, in front of everyone. That’s a hard pill to swallow. It’s different when suggestions come one-on-one versus in front of everyone. But I think that’s what helped everyone improve. It gave me a point to prove: that I can do better, and that's what helped me personally transform.

How do you curate a space in social media that drives real-world change while protecting your mental space from digital noise?

Before joining Miss Nepal, I had deleted all my socials. I am not someone who's very active on social media. If it were up to me, I would be living on a farm in a village with no internet. But as a pageant girl, there are certain things expected of you, and I had to have a social presence, so I did join.

I came in with a strong mindset. I am able to differentiate what's real life and what's ‘reel’ life. I don't let what anyone else has to say impact my mental health or how I see myself. I only take opinions from people who know me or know my journey. You just need a strong mindset to not let it get to you.

Take us back to the exact moment you were being crowned. What came to your mind, and who were you looking for in the crowd?

I didn't know my dad was going to attend the finale. I thought he would stay home with my mom, that it would just be my brother. I actually saw him in the crowd, and that really helped me stay grounded. I thought, ‘Okay, my dad is here; he’s watching me’. He was the one person I kept looking at throughout the time I was on stage.

At every step of the finale, I was so ready for my name not to be called. So when my name was called, it felt unreal. In the video, I don't think it looked like I had much emotion, but my heart was racing; I was breathing so heavily. I couldn't believe I was actually going to be one of those beauty queens with a crown on my head. It was magical.

A cause you’re passionate about?

Academics. I’ve been an academically inclined child my whole life, and education has played a very important role in shaping who my family and I have become. I think the lack of access to quality education in Nepal is one of the most prominent challenges I see, and my Beauty with a Purpose project is tied to that. It is something I want to keep working on.

What does the Miss Nepal community and sisterhood mean to you, and how has it shaped your journey?

I think the sisters we make throughout the Miss Nepal journey are the most important relationships to build, because it’s such a unique experience; if you don't have people who share the same experience to talk to, life can get very difficult. The friends we make during and after the journey keep us grounded and keep us sane.

How do you associate changemaking with pageantry? Could you have become a changemaker without it?

I don’t think pageantry and changemaking need to go hand in hand. You can be a changemaker regardless of whether or not you’re in pageantry. I think pageantry just accelerates the process. It helps you reach more people, connect with more people and organisations relevant to your cause. It’s a catalyst, not the reason change takes place.

What impact do you believe fashion can bring to self-expression and identity?

I believe fashion is a huge part of our personality and how we express ourselves. The way a person dresses shows how they see themselves and how others perceive them. Though for people who aren't into fashion and prefer comfort, that too reflects a personality that values practicality over being flashy.

For me, I love fashion. I have been designing and styling my own clothes, not professionally, but personally, and I really enjoy it. It's the message you give people without speaking, and especially in the industry we're in, it's important to carry yourself in a certain way and stay authentic to your personality.

What are your short-term and long-term goals?

Short-term, it's definitely to represent Nepal well. My international pageant is in four months, in November in Japan, and I need to prepare for that, give my best, and make my country proud.

Long-term, ideally I'd like to have a fashion business that also gives back to society, without needing to be actively hands-on with it. And for myself, to live on a sustainable farm.

A message for young people, particularly those aspiring to join pageantry?

You could take the route my friend Kashish (Miss Nepal Cosmo, 2026) took. She’s a professional model who's been in the industry a long time. Or you could do what I did. I modelled here and there, did about two shows in my whole life, and realised it was hampering my education, so I set it aside and focused on academics instead. I was a 4.0 student, and I took that route.

You could take the academic route or the professional route, whichever you're genuinely interested in. There isn’t a particular do's-and-don'ts list for becoming a beauty queen. If it's what you really want, first understand and research what's actually required of the pageant, and work on yourself accordingly.