Priya Sigdel On Transitioning From Miss Nepal Earth to Breaking Barriers & Empowering Women

As the world continues to progress and change, women are creating avenues, sometimes against the grain of expectations, based on their fierce determination. It is appropriate to examine the powerful story of Priya Sigdel, one of Nepal’s most significant leaders in championing gender equality, at this moment of burgeoning women’s empowerment in Nepal.

Priya Sigdel, founder of Hatti Hatti Nepal and the renowned Miss Nepal Earth 2018 winner, is an inspiration of the new age of women’s empowerment in Nepal.  

Priya advocates for reform while also recognizing the injustices prevalent in society. She shares how her mother’s unapologetic nature towards discrimination and gender stereotypes allowed her to question social norms and prejudices in society and also advocate for women’s rights in Nepal.

Ms. Priya On Her Early Life and Challenges 

Ms. Priya Sigdel speaks to her personal experience as a mixed caste person in Nepal, which has caused her to see how her friends discriminated against her and separated themselves from her. She believes that the problem originates from caste prejudices that exist in Nepal.

Although she felt rejected by her environment at times, she claims her mother raised her to love herself as a child of mixed caste, acknowledging her differences. She explained that her mother gave her a foundation of self-worth to face the world.

Her story exemplifies the need for women’s empowerment in Nepal and the prejudices regarding caste that exist in our society. She states that she realized the existence of various forms of patriarchy and privileges for boys. Despite this, she mentions taking pride in her position as both a girl and the eldest daughter of her family. She suggests that social equity requires an understanding of and empowerment for all individuals.

She also discusses growing awareness of gender equality, urging the redefinition of success beyond traditional constructs of gendered roles in Nepal.

Overcoming Traditional Societal Challenges and Language Barriers

Ms. Priya Sigdel shares her disapproval of the Nepali education system’s reliance on reward and punishment, which implies a hierarchy between languages, showing clear privilege to English speakers and penalizing Nepali. She argues that language is only significant for communication and understanding, becoming irrelevant when it comes to obstructing education and learning.

Priya describes her move from a public to a private school as distinct in terms of language and expectations. She says she enjoyed her first year in school overall. However, she also found it challenging because of her appearance and low self-confidence. She remembers it as a motivation to improve her language skills.

She recalls learning to speak English without formal classes, instead through YouTube videos and additional practice conversing with English speakers. She says that she managed to believe in herself after realizing her mistakes and kept practicing her speech until it became comfortable.

READ MORE: Ms. Shreeya Giri: Championing Mental Health and Leadership in Nepal’s Social Impact Landscape

Gaining Empowerment through Active Participation and Valuing One’s Journey

Ms. Priya Sigdel shares her thoughts on the significance of raising one’s hand while. She states that raising one’s hand signifies a relational act of agency, social engagement, exemplifying self-awareness, curiosity, and making opportunities for building relationships.

Ms. Sigdel shares her views on rejecting a victim mentality, developing resilience, and understanding societal disruptions. She also provides some steps we can take to achieve this. She encourages facing adversity without necessarily identifying as a victim. She expresses her wish to inspire confidence and accountability in society. She appreciates the obstacles we encounter in our lives for allowing us to grow and develop.

She also discusses the value of unpaid work at the start of one’s career, allowing them to gain experience in a real environment and develop new skills. She states that gaining real experience and using practical skills exist outside of textbooks and traditional education.

From Beauty Queen to Advocating For Active Change

Priya Sigdel explains her evolution from social activist to national beauty queen, saying that she used her voice and platform to engage with a larger society. She mentions that throughout her journey in Ms. Nepal, she felt like she did not compare on par with the other contestants in terms of beauty and professionalism.

She talks about being a receptionist, where she worked with front-desk duties. She remembers being an intern and gaining valuable insights into a professional environment. She also had experience working as a medical representative (MR) for a laboratory and was involved with hospitals.

In her opinion, competing in Miss Nepal allowed her to grow in social activism and make decisions with her voice, not just based on beauty or fame. Despite her initial apprehensions, she cites her journey as validation of the power of a positive voice and the possibilities that women have.

She talks about the fairness and openness of Nepal’s beauty pageants. She argues that these competitions should prioritize qualities like talent, confidence, and life experiences over monetary value or connections. In 2018, Ms. Nepal described her experience of being around incredible women, where she felt dwarfed, including being bare-faced and dressed plainly.

Priya notes the commercialization occurring in Nepal’s beauty pageant space. She elaborates that registration fees collected from contestants and the sale of tickets may cause some contestants issues. She believes it is a priority for the people involved in running organizations to support the candidates and promote women’s empowerment in Nepal through the beauty pageant.

A Journey through Resilience and Rising Above with Determination

Priya Sigdel’s journey exhibits her perseverance and dedication to changing society. She admits to having worked as a medical representative and receptionist in the past, which showcases her commitment to developing self-confidence and skills. Ms. Sigdel mentions having experienced this discrimination and caste issues firsthand. Nevertheless, she takes being her family’s first daughter as a point of pride. She exhibits tenacity as a Nepalese woman and feels that respect and dignity are more significant than wealth.

She describes her situation with having to juggle both her family and personal aspirations after her mother’s unexpected passing. She says all of her siblings were abroad, so she had to work through the difficulty while concealing her weakness. She mentions that you can manage a family and still accomplish your aspirations.

She emphasizes the value of mutual respect and unconditional reliance in the partnership selection process. She contends that proper appreciation acknowledges one’s initiatives and accomplishments compulsively without inebriating an individual’s ego. She also explains that displaying appreciation, especially for women in roles at work or home, brings both joy and happiness while also directing positive energy through the relationship.

Ms. Sigdel expresses her views on gender inequality and the stigmas placed on women based on their unmarried status, including the social pressures around being married. She does agree that a woman does not need to be married to be successful and acknowledges that society evaluates and values a woman based on her marriage status.

Conclusion: A Call For Change

Priya Sigdel, who was crowned Miss Earth Nepal in 2018, is resolute against caste-based discrimination and oppression. She raises her concerns about women’s barbed wire of injustice in particular. She continues to fight for women’s dignity and rights. As an example of proportional rise and resistance, she examines the notion of being a woman of substance. She embodies the strength of women’s empowerment in Nepal.

In this video, Ms. Priya Sigdel describes her journey from an average social activist to the titleholder of Ms. Nepal Earth (2018). She elaborates on her goals for women’s rights and her continued goal of moving toward real societal change through women’s empowerment in Nepal (removing the stigma and limits of gender, as well as providing equality for each person’s contributions to society). Start encouraging growth in the individual.

Ms. Priya Sigdel discusses the relationship between individual hopes and aspirations, culture, and social responsibility in Nepal. She promotes women’s empowerment in Nepal, youth success, and overcoming societal fears, envisioning a Nepal that values dignity, respect, and possibilities, and emphasizes the need for future transformation.