Miss Bhutan is a national beauty pageant based in Bhutan. The current title holder is Tashi Choden, who represented Bhutan at Miss Universe 2022.
History On October 10, 2008, MPC Bhutan Entertainment, a Thimphu based film production company, organized Miss Bhutan pageant and launched it first Miss Bhutan beauty pageant. The Founding President of Miss Bhutan Pageant is Karma Tshering.
The selection of the Miss Bhutan finalists and eventually the winner of the pageant is based on the decision of a panel of judges on the performance and physical attributes of the candidates and not by public voting system. The winner of Miss Bhutan receives a cash prize of Nu 100,000. The Miss Bhutan crown, designed in Bhutan, is worth another Nu 100,000.
In 2008, the winner represented the country at Miss Earth beauty pageant. Although there was no swimsuit round in the actual Miss Bhutan contest, the winner is trained in an enclosed area for the swimsuit competition in preparation for the international Miss Earth competition. 77 contestants from all across Bhutan registered for the Miss Bhutan 2008, but only 20 contestants were short listed in the main event after the preliminary round.
On November 9, 2008, Miss Bhutan 2008 Tsoki Tsomo Karchung participated in the 8th edition of Miss Earth beauty pageant, which was held at the Clark Expo Amphitheater in Angeles, Pampanga, Philippines. Eighty-five women arrived from October 19, 2008 in the Philippines. She also took part in Miss Young International in Taiwan, and Miss Safari 2008 in Kenya.
The second Miss Bhutan was held in 2010 where Sonam Choden Retty was the winner and held the title for the longest period (2010-2021). The third edition of Miss Bhutan was held only after a decade, Tashi Choden took the title and is now the reigning queen. She is the first one in the country to represent in the Miss Universe.
Miss Bhutan was restructured in 2026, with Sangay Tsheltrim as the chairman and 'Samuh+Shangreela' as the official organizer. He announced the debut of Bhutan at Miss World 2026.
Titleholders Year Miss Bhutan 1st Runner-Up 2nd Runner-Up 3rd Runner Up 4th Runner Up References 2008 Tsokye Tsomo Karchung Thimphu, Bhutan Shelkar Choden Trongsa, Bhutan Tshering Pem Trashigang, Bhutan Tashi Pelden Wangdue, Bhutan Kinga Wangmo Paro, Bhutan 2010 Sonam Choden Retty Punakha, Bhutan Kinley Yangden Dorji Thimphu, Bhutan Tenzin Norden Haa, Bhutan Dechen Tshomo Wangdue, Bhutan Sangay Dema Samtse, Bhutan 2022 Tashi Choden Wangdue, Bhutan Sonam Pelden Wangdue, Bhutan Eden Zangmo Trashigang, Bhutan colspan=2
Miss Bhutan 2022 After a hiatus of 12 years, the Miss Bhutan pageant made a triumphant return, generating widespread excitement and attention. The event witnessed a notable surge in participation by exceptionally talented women, surpassing previous editions. Tashi Choden emerged as the victor, attaining the coveted title of Miss Bhutan 2022 and subsequently securing the historic distinction of becoming the first Bhutanese representative at the esteemed Miss Universe pageant. Additionally, Sonam Pelden and Eden Zangmo earned the distinctions of 1st and 2nd runners-up, respectively, in the pageant.
Miss Bhutan 2022 Title and Placement +TitleContestantMiss Bhutan 2022Tashi Choden1st Runner UpSonam Peldon2nd Runner UpEden ZangmoOther awardsBest Ramp WalkTashi ChodenBest In KiraTashi ChodenBest in Evening GownTashi ChodenMiss Talented Sabina SubbaMiss CongenialityAnita Limboo
Miss Bhutan International Pageants 2022 +Pageant ContestantPlacementRemarksMiss UniverseTashi ChodenUnplacedMiss Supermodel WorldwideDevika GhalleyMiss Intellectual National Director of Miss Supermodel BhutanMiss Glam WorldJeechen Lhadree2nd runner up
Miss Bhutan Contestants 2022 +ContestantHomeTownTitle/AwardPlacement1. Anita LimbooSamtseMiss Congeniality Top 102. Chimi Yewong DolmaTrongsa3. Dechen Pem Haa4. Dema WangmoChukha5. Devika GhalleySamtse6. Eden ZangmoTrashigang2nd Runner UpTop 57. Jachen LadreeSarpangTop 108. Karma YangzomTrashigang9. Kinley ChodenLhuentse10. Lhakpa DemaWangdueTop10 11. Namgay WangmoChukhaTop 1012. Nangsel C. Rigzang Paro13. Phuntsho Seldon Wang ThimphuTop 514. Rinzin WangmoTrashiyangtse15. Sabina Subba Tsirang Miss Talented16. Miss TalentedTrashigangTop 517. Sheela GiriSamtse18. Sonam ChokiBumthang19. Sonam LhamoChukha20. Sonam PeldonWangdue1st Runner UpTop 521. Sonam Tshoso Tshering Lhuentse Top 1022. Tandin Pem Punakha23. Tandin WangmoZhemgang 24. Tashi Choden WangdueWinner, Best in Kira,
Best in Evening Gown,
Best Ramp WalkTop 525. Thinley PemChukha
Miss Bhutan 2010
Miss Bhutan 2010 Results +Final resultsContestantsWinnerSonam Retty Choden1st Runner UpKinley Yangden Dorji2nd Runner UpTenzin Norden
Miss Bhutan 2010 Contestants +Contestant HometownAward Title Placement 1. Dawa YangchenTrashiyangtseMiss AthleteTop 102. Dechen WangmoTsirang Top 103. Dechen TshomoWangdue Phodrang3rd Runner UpTop 54. Karma Loday LhamoThimphuBest Model5. Kinley ChezomSamtse Miss PersonalityTop 106. Kinley WangmoZhemgangMiss Beautiful Hair7. Kinley Yangden DorjiThimphu1st Runner Up Miss TalentTop 58. Kinzang Choden BumthangMiss PhotogenicTop 109. Namgay DemSarpang10. Sangay DemaSamtse4th Runner up Miss Beautiful Skin Top 511. Singye Dema WangdueBest Model12. Sonam Retty ChodenPunakhaWinnerTop 513. Tashi WangmoSarpang14. Tenzin Norden Haa2nd Runner UpTop 515. Thinley DemaBumthangMiss Congeniality 16. Tshering YangkiTrashiyangtseMiss Beautiful Smile17. Tshering ZangmoBumthangMiss Natural Beauty Top 1018. Ugyen PemaTrashigang
Miss Bhutan 2008 Miss Bhutan 2008 marked a significant milestone as Bhutan's inaugural national pageant, introducing a refreshing and inspiring platform for the nation's citizens. This pioneering event attracted a cadre of exceptionally talented women whose accomplishments resonated with thousands of women across the country, ushering in a new era in Bhutanese cultural and societal norms. Notably, Tsokye Tsomo Karchung emerged as the first-ever Miss Bhutan, attaining both the prestigious title and subsequent recognition as one of the country's most accomplished women. She also took the title of Miss Photogenic and Miss Talent. Shelkar Choden secured the position of 1st runner-up, while Tshering Pem claimed the distinction of 2nd runner-up, contributing to the pageant's legacy of celebrating and promoting remarkable female achievements.
The grand finale of Miss Bhutan 2008 was held on 10 October 2008 in the YDF Auditorium, the nations's biggest auditorium hall. The pageant was judged by five famous personalities and two international judges, Kelly Dorji, actor/model popular in Bollywood Film Industry and Charm Osathanond, Miss Thailand 2006.
Miss Bhutan represented Bhutan in Miss Earth 2008, Miss Young International in Taiwan, and Miss Safari 2008 in Kenya.
The Bhutan Information Communication and Media Authority (BICMA), Bhutan's media regulatory body did not allow the contest to use the Gross National Happiness tag, as they believed its use didn't correspond with beauty contests.
Miss Bhutan 2008 Results +Final resultContestantsWinnerTsokye Tsomo Karchung1st Runner UpShelkar Choden2nd Runner UpTshering Pem
Miss Bhutan International Pageants 2008 +PageantsContestantMiss Earth (8th Edition) Tsokye Tsomo KarchungMiss Young InternationalTsokye Tsomo KarchungMiss Safari in KenyaTsokye Tsomo Karchung
Miss Bhutan 2008 Contestants Age Contestants Age Height HometownTitle/Award Placement1 Wangchuk Dema 18 Samdrup Jongkhar, BhutanMiss Congeniality 2Ugyen Dema19 Thimphu, Bhutan Top 103Tsokye Tsomo Karchung24 Thimphu, BhutanWinner Miss Photogenic Miss Talent WINNER4 Tshering Zangmo22 Mongar, Bhutan5 Tshering Yangzom20 Trashigang, BhutanMiss Beautiful Top 106 Tshering Pem17 Trashigang, Bhutan2nd Runner Up Top 57 Tashi Pelden20 Wangdue, Bhutan3rd Runner Up Top 58 Shelkar Choden24 Trongsa, Bhutan1st Runner UpTop 59 Nima Sangay23 Thimphu, Bhutan10 Pema Yeshi21 Bumthang, Bhutan Top 1011 Ngawang Choden23 Wangdue, Bhutan Top 1012 Neljor Wangmo18 Lhuntse, Bhutan13 Kinga Wangmo19 Paro, Bhutan4th Runner Up Top 514 Kinga Om18 Thimphu, Bhutan15 Kezang Chhoden18 Thimphu, Bhutan16 Karma Zam22 Paro, BhutanBest Model Top 1017 Karma Choki19 Samdrup Jongkhar, Bhutan18 Jamyang Zangmo26 Trashigang, Bhutan19 Deki Choden Namgyel23 Trashigang, Bhutan
References