Jane Deepika Garrett Nepal’s first plus size Miss Universe contestant

Delhi: The Miss Universe 2023 competition took place in El Salvador over the weekend, and Sheynnis Palacios from Nicaragua emerged as the winner among 83 contestants from around the world. Beyond Palacios’ victory, the event garnered attention for its more lenient eligibility rules this year. The pageant embraced inclusivity by allowing the participation of married, separated, and divorced women, as well as being more accepting of transwomen and plus-size contestants. Notably, Miss Nepal Jane Dipika Garrett, the first plus-size model to compete in this prestigious pageant, may not have won, but she captured the spotlight.

Jane did not win at the Miss Universe 2023 or reach the final, she was among the top 20, alongside India’s Shweta Sharda. Earlier, due to her confident demeanour and message of body positivity, she had already become a crowd favourite at the pageant, drawing large cheers from the crowd whenever she appeared on stage.

Jane Dipika Garrett, a 23-year-old American-born Nepali model, made history as the first plus-size contestant to enter the semi-final stage of the Miss Universe 2023, reaching the top 20. Earlier in the year, she also became the first plus-sized woman to be crowned Miss Nepal. Standing at 5 feet 7 inches tall and weighing 80 kg, she is not only a pageant winner but also a body positivity advocate. Jane, breaking conventional beauty standards, expressed her mission to represent women facing challenges with weight, hormonal issues, and those who don’t conform to traditional beauty norms.