Kathmandu, July 12: Usha Khadgi was declared Miss Nepal 2000 amid a fanfare here this evening. She was sashed the crown by Miss Nepal 1999 Sweta Singh at today’s final function of the contest.

Twenty-year old Khadgi, who also bagged Miss Talent title, will join Miss World Contest to be held in London in December this year.

Similarly, Biva Ranjit was awarded First Runner Up title and will join Miss Asia Pacific Contest to be held in the Philippines capital Manila in December this year. Ranjit, 22, also took away Miss Personality title.

Jasmin Shrestha bagged the Second Runner Up title while Malika Pradhan and Smriti Singh won Miss Photogenic and Miss Best Dress respectively. Fashion Care Boutique was declared the best designer.

The first, second and the third of the contest received cash prizes of one hundred thousand, 50 thousand and 25 thousand respectively while the other title holders ten thousand each. Mt Everest Brewery Executive Director Dr Daman Bahadur Amatya gave away the cash prizes the top three winners.

Twenty contestants had taken part in the beauty pageant jointly organised by the Hidden Treasure, Kathmandu Jaycees and Mt Everest Brewery (Pvt) Ltd.

The judges appointed for the final round of the competition held today included former Industry and Commerce Secretary Ganesh Bahadur Thapa (Chief Judge), Sri Lankan Ambassador to Nepal Pamila J. Deen, noted Nepali industrialist Piyush B. Amatya, Ishori Rana, economist Dr Durgesh Man Singh, first Miss Nepal Rubi Rana Shah, FNCCI president Pradip Kumar Shrestha, Ratna Barrow of the Kathmandu-based United Nations Women’s Organisation, Nepal Tourism Board Chief Executive Officer Pradeep Raj Pandey, Market Manager of Nepal Arab Bank Barsha Shrestha and film producer Uddhab Paudel.