Miss Tanahun 2015, Sujana Shrestha, is not your run-of-the-mill beauty queen. Shrestha, who is one of the few female members of the riding group Nepal Riders Unified, is also an accomplished stunt artist and does turn heads for reasons other than just her looks. In this interview with the Post’s Sanjit Pradhananga, Shrestha talks about why women need to keep pushing boundaries and break through the confines of given titles and roles, even if it is that of a beauty queen. Excerpts:

Beauty pageants and bike stunts usually don’t go hand in hand. How are you involved in these two very different things at the same time?

I get that asked a lot. I have always been drawn to the extremes. Ever since I was a kid, I have always been interested in extreme sports, be it motorcycle racing and stunts or exploring rock cliffs and caves. I have also always been interested in entering beauty pageants and hope to enter movies someday. These two hobbies of mine do not go hand in hand, but I have always been drawn to both and thankfully have been able to pursue them like I’d wanted.

As Miss Tanahun though, do you feel that you are expected to carry yourself in a certain way, perhaps in the same way that Miss Nepals or Miss Worlds are expected to?

That is certainly there. Beauty queens are supposed to be graceful, coy and forever-smiling—aren’t they? When people find out that the woman under the helmet is also the reigning Miss Tanahun, they do get surprised and ask a lot of questions. Their inquiries are never negative though, and they are all pleasantly surprised. These stunts, I feel, is how I articulate myself, just like an artist would paint or a musician would compose songs. I think, if anything, beauty pageant winners need to express themselves more. It is very easy to be put into a stereotypical box once you inherit the crown. If all title-holders expressed their true selves, beauty pageants as we know it would change and would become more relevant and relatable.

Are there, however, some official responsibilities you have to fulfill as the reigning Miss Tanahun?

As Miss Tanahun, I represent my entire district and am an ambassador of my district wherever I go. Tanahun is a district that depends on tourism as a major income source; hence, I am involved in lot of events related to tourism, which can be a blessing and a curse. At a lot of these events, I am just there to make up the numbers. But thankfully, Tanahun has a lot of adventure sport options and I attend events related to these with a lot more passion.

How does one begin the journey to the Miss Tanahun crown?

I have always wanted to enter beauty pageants. I remember watching Sugarika KC win the Miss Nepal crown and ever since that day I have wanted to do the same. Even play-acting with friends when young, I would always make up elaborate games where we play-acted competing in beauty pageants. Then when the opportunity came along last year, I jumped at it feet first.

How elaborate of a competition is Miss Tanahun?

2015 was actually the first year the pageant was held, that too through a Pokhara-based events company. Honestly, I wasn’t expecting very much, but the way the event was done (despite the earthquakes) actually surprised me. The contestants went through a 45-day extensive training before doing a few local shows in towns like Khaireni and Bandipur. The finale was held in Damauli and drew a sold-out crowd at the mela grounds there. It, perhaps, wasn’t as elaborate as a Miss Nepal pageant  could be, but it was, nonetheless, a great event for the locals and was extremely popular.

Now the other side of your story—how did you begin performing stunts on bikes?

My father was a big inspiration. Ever since we were kids, he always pushed us to participate in all kinds of activities without having any regard for what the society deemed as ‘games boys play’ and ‘games girls play’. From a very young age, my sister and I were constantly pushed to do things that other girls were not doing. I learned to ride a motorcycle when I was in the eighth grade, but somehow, just riding wasn’t enough and I have always wanted more. After I got over the thrill of speed, I began performing some basic stunts to satiate my thirst for adrenaline. Before I knew it, I was scouring the internet trying to find new tricks to do every day.

Biking tends to be looked at as a ‘man’s sport’, at least in Nepal. You must have raised a few eyebrows when you’re performing these stunts.

Many eyebrows, indeed. When I go to biking and stunt events, there are people who think I am out of my depth. Then they see me perform stunts and their jaws drop, their cynicism disappears. There is perhaps little else that gives me more joy than shattering pre-conceived stereotypes people have.

When you were learning how to bike, were there detractors?

A lot of them, and funnily, they were all women. I think women play a big role in keeping each other pinned inside societal stereotypes.

Now, however, especially after the boom of women commuting on scooters and bikes, a girl performing stunts on bikes isn’t as alarming anymore. I have a lot of younger girls who approach me and ask me to mentor them.

And what do you tell them?

I try to take as many of them under my wings as possible. But I also tell them that bike stunts are only a form of expression. It is a route that I have chosen. The idea is that the stunts in themselves don’t mean very much, but what matters more is that these young girls find their true calling like I have.

I tell them to pursue their passions and follow their hearts.

What does the future hold for Sujana Shrestha?

Hopefully great things. I don’t have concrete plans for the future as such. I want to try my luck with Miss Nepal if not this year, then in 2017. I also want to continue my studies.

My family owns a little resort that serves as a rest-stop for travellers heading to Pokhara from Kathmandu. I have been working at the resort since I was a kid and now manage most of its day-to-day businesses. It is conveniently located under a popular rock-climbing spot and I plan on using that to attract more people to the resort in the future, and let’s see where we end up from there.