By Maharani Lamsal

    KATHMANDU, Aug. 13 (Xinhua) -- Nepal's most popular beauty pageant is getting ready to choose the first Miss Nepal since the Himalayan kingdom became a federal democratic republic last year.

    The Hidden Treasure, the event management company in Lalitpur, south to Nepali capital Kathmandu, on Wednesday announced that it has begun accepting applications from Nepali women who are above 18 and are at least above 5 feet 4 inches (around 162.5 cm) tall, and have completed high school to take part in the contest that will be held in September or October.

    In 1994, in Birgunj, some 90 km south of Kathmandu, the conteststarted getting popular and has spawned dozens of other beauty contests like Miss Teen, Miss Mongol, and even pageants for men.

    However, out of respect for Nepal's conservative society, Miss Nepal does not have a swim suit round.

    The pageant ran into controversy in 2008 when the then Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist) (CPN-M), who had ended its 10-year armed revolt and signed a peace agreement with the government in 2006, returned to mainstream politics and its women's wing opposed the pageant.

    "Miss Nepal widens the division between the haves and have-nots," said Amrita Thapa Magar, chief of the party's women's wing, last year, explaining why they were opposing the contest, "Only affluent women who can afford the cosmetics and wardrobes needed can take part."

    Thapa Magar also said the contest degraded women to "commodities" and "social inferiors" at a time when her party was trying to build a "new Nepal".

    Last year, when the party headed the government, the strong opposition to Miss Nepal caused the pageant to be shelved.

    Now, with a new government at the helm, the organizers are hoping that Miss Nepal can be held again.

    The winner goes on to take part in the Miss World contest whilethe first runner-up represents Nepal in the Miss Earth contest.

    "Miss Nepal actually empowers women," said Miss Nepal 2007 Sitashma Chand while campaigning last year along with other former Miss Nepals for the pageant to be held.

    "It gives us an identity and more career options," she said.

    Some of the former Miss Nepal have become a pilot, a bank executive, an actress in the Nepali film industry and a well-known VJ and master of ceremonies. The Miss Nepals are also brand ambassadors for the World Wildlife Fund's Nepal chapter.

    Besides, they take part in social campaigns like cancer awareness drives and the goal to draft a new constitution by next year in which women would have equal rights.

    Last year, 20 young women were shortlisted for the pageant before it was stopped. The Hidden Treasure is hoping that many of them would return to the contest this year.

    "We are all of the age of consent," said Sahana Bajracharya, one of the 20 shortlisted last year, adding "also, our parents have consented to our taking part. So people should not object. There are other graver issues affecting women, like trafficking, domestic violence and enforced prostitution. I think the first priority should be to stop these."