History 2011 » In the media »Lack of funds hinders Miss Tibet’s foreign dream

By S Gopal Puri

DHARAMSHALA, India, 6 August 2011 (TNN)

In a bid to raise Tibet’s voice at international forums, Tenzin Yangkyi, who was crowned Miss Tibet 2011, would represent the country at the “Miss Young International” and “Miss Asia Pacific World” contests this year. But scarcity of funds is the main obstacle in Yangkyi’s way to success.

This was disclosed by director of Miss Tibet pageant, Lobsang Wangyal, who himself has run into debts after the Miss Tibet contest 2011.

Wangyal said Yangkyi’s travelling expenses, wardrobe requirements and other logistics need to be covered. “I have therefore urged various quarters to chip in with funds to make this trip a success, but nothing has materialized so far,” he said.

He maintained that while living a life of exile, it is very difficult to manage all such things and more so when one is alone without the support of his near ones. “To raise the Tibet issue and to maintain the pace of freedom struggle, it is very necessary to represent our country before the world,” he stated. Tenzin lives on exile in Switzerland with her elder sister, mother and father. For her, becoming Miss Tibet 2011 has been a dream-come-true. She had worked as a sales executive for two years to earn money to participate in the Miss Tibet 2011 contest.

Wangyal said Yangkyi is currently in the US, on an invitation from a Tibetan group. She went there to participate in an event during the Dalai Lama’s Kalachakra teachings in Washington DC. Next month, she will be going to Philippines and South Korea to compete in Miss Young International and Miss Asia Pacific World 2011, he added.