Miss Nepal

Payal Shakya

Payal was born and brought up in Katmandu, the capital of Nepal. She has one younger brother and one younger sister. She has completed her high school education, won first prize in Public speaking in a school competition and is now a management student. Payal was appointed a Conservation Ambassadress for the World Life Fund and Goodwill Ambassador for the Nepal Cancer Relief Society. In her leisure time Payal enjoys listening to music, cooking, swimming, playing badminton and has trekked in Everest areas. Personal motto is "Life is the gift of god but what you make out of your life, is your gift towards god.


Where did you grow up? Tell us a little about your home town/city, and family.
I grew up in Kathmandu, the capital of Nepal. Many of the religious places like Pasupatinath, Swayambhu as well as the royal palace of His Majesty King is also situated here. There are 5 members of my family. My father is the breadwinner.

What Jobs have you done? What was the most interesting/bizarre?
I hosted a television programme for 3 months. The most interesting thing about it was, we got very famous and gained a lot of respect.

What are your career ambitions, how do you plan to realise them?
As I am a management student, I would like to pursue my career in the same field i.e. business management. For that I have to carry out further studies in the same subject. I am also very optimistic in regard with social service.

What is the proudest moment of your life? (Not including winning your National Title)
I won first prize in the inter school public speaking contest in class eight. I was also very exited when I went to Sagarmatha Conservation areas, starting from Lukla to Island peak (above 5000m) we created awareness of climate change, being a Conservation Ambassador associated with WWF (World Wildlife Fund).

What was the funniest/most embarrassing moment of your life?
My most embarrassing moment in life was when I passed in S.L.C. (grade 10) and my group of friends failed. I had to join College alone.

What was the funniest/most embarrassing moment of your life?
My life has really changed I earned a lot of respect and love. I become popular and also I gained a lot of opportunities to move ahead in my life. Being a National figure, I have a lot of responsibilities.

Tell us about an interesting event you have attended, or a person that you have met.
I have attended one event of Cancer Relief Society where I was announced as Goodwill Ambassador for Cancer awareness program. I met so many renowned people of Nepal, top businessman Ministers, Doctors, Actors and lots more.

What would you like to do, if you became Miss World 2004?
If I became Miss World 2004, first of all I would like to do something starting with my country as it is considered a developing country. I seek recognition for my country Nepal worldwide, by seeking help from developed countries. I would like to travel to different countries, study them and I will do whatever Miss World can do or have the rights to do.

If you had a personal motto what would it be?
Life is the gift of god, but what you make out of life is your gift towards god.

Give details of any charitable work undertaken?
I am a Goodwill Ambassador for Cancer Relief Society and I am working for it to raise the funds for the treatment of cancer patients. Myself and all the contestants of Miss Nepal contest donated some amount of money to the heart patient Tika Ram Acharya for his treatment.

As a Conservation Ambassador, I have trekked in Everest areas to create awareness and interact with people on the matter of climates change, its affects and what the impacts are. Also when I was younger, I performed a dance on charity show for Sushta Manisthi (mentally disabled people).

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