The preliminary audition round for the beauty pageant Miss National Icon-2017 took place in Kathmandu this week. The audition rounds, judged by a panel comprising choreographer Kala Subba and singer Dhaniram Rai, picked 20 women of age group 16 to 27—the pageant’s official criteria for participation. 

Dhaniram Rai, who is also the CEO of the organising company Bright Entertainment, said that an elaborate training session for the selected contestants will start later this week. 

Rai said that the sessions will take place for a month before the grand finale of the pageant, slated to be held in Tundikhel on December 3. During the sessions, the contestants will be led through various rounds of personality development exercises. 

Among the selected contestants are Priyanka Puri, Puja Angdembe, Salina Gurung, Sophia Limbu, Aishwarya Rai, Aarati Rai, Injita Rai and Merina Tusma.