DHARAMSHALA -- It means 'Place of Peace' or "Sanctuary". Nestled under the Himalaya, in

North India, it looks peaceful enough ..but to Tibetans in exile, it's a town of

mourning, of frustration, activism and politics.

McLeod Ganj, India, is the capital city of their uncertain world.

Local 'man about town', LOBSANG WANGYAL- lives to keep images of Tibetans in the worldwide

media I am photojournalist, freelance and since

recently I have a.. given myself a new title as well, a secondary title -- a 'small town

impresario'

Every year, he sets the town talking with his own provocative challenge to Tibetan traditions.

'There wasn't much Tibetan woman's creativity or woman's participation in terms of show

and entertainment So Miss Tibet popped up'.

I devised the pageant in such a way that it has all the in Hindi word -- all kinds of

masalas, ingredients of all kind of spices. There is politics, there is social, there

is fun, entertainment, education, culture, everything.

Explicitly, it is about empowering Tibetan woman, young Tibetan woman and implicitly

it asserts Tibet as a nation' and Tibetans as a people.

A very important message is there. and young Tibetan women are hearing LOBSANG's

call. In Australia, graduate nurse, DOLMA DRIMEDTSANG

sharpens her moves. I am going to do Miss Tibet and hopefully

I will win. DOLMA arrived in Australia,6 years ago as

a refugee and established her new life in Melbourne..

I escaped from Tibet with my sister when I was 8 years old..

Living in this country is a strength for me.. I never thought when I was back in India that

I would be able to help anyone, just to feed my stomach and never felt able

to achieve something in life. But now it's changed.

I feel like all the doors are open for me everything is possible.. everything is possible.

'DOLMA, Chin Up, shoulders back relax' DOLMA's team has a secret weapon .. for the

catwalk.. Cause it's not just a beauty thing, it's a

political thing right. The most evocative symbol we thought of was

the Tibetan flag. DOLMA is the first Australian ever to enter

the Miss Tibet Pageant I' m doing Miss Tibet because it will give

me a platform to talk about Tibet's issues. Her expectations high after months of preparation,

now DOLMA is ready for India. This is the beautiful dress that I am going

to wear My evening gown. Thanks to all the girls. This dress is for all of you.

After a 12 hour journey from the mountains in a bumpy crowded bus, LOBSANG's in Delhi

to organize his outfit at the biggest fabric shop in town.

My suit has become an important part of the whole Miss Tibet pageant.

Everyone is asking, LOBSANG what colour are you wearing so.. This is a difficult thing

to do you know.. like the Miss Tibet pageant itself

LOBSANG's Miss Tibet suit is his signature. This is it .. with some lights and all this

.. it's perfect. Arriving in New Delhi's 42 degree heat, DOLMA

too needs to go shopping for cooler cottons And then reconnects with old school mates

who are in the 23rd day of a hunger strike, protesting another Chinese crackdown in Tibet

after shocking self-immolations by monks and nuns fighting Chinese authority.

I am going to show all my support today. They are doing a great job and I am so happy at

what they are doing. I am always there to support them.

To be Tibetan is to be an activist. With a few days to go before she is due in

Dharamshala for the pageant, DOLMA visits Tibetan settlements where she grew up... ...meets

a sister in law she has never met before ..and prays with her at the nunnery for the removal

of all obstacles on her path to win Miss Tibet. I feel there will be no problems on my way

back to Dharamsala and to the pageant . I think I'm safe. I feel safe.

Up in the cool of McLeod Ganj, the clouds evaporate when the Miss Tibet contestants

first show themselves in the town. I just love McLeod Ganj...it so spiritual

the weather is perfect here and everybody is so beautiful here..friendly relaxed and

nice and talking friendly ...I just love McLeod. The pageant takes over a local hotel

Two to a room, the contestants have just 7 short days to rehearse and prepare everything

for the 3 day spectacle. From their first official outing, the girls

learn that in downtown McLeod Ganj, it's hard to be elegant all the time.

There are 6 contestants, 3 from India and one each from Australia, Switzerland and the

USA. With the Himalayas towering behind, LOBSANG's

press conference launches the girls directly at the media lens,

I am very happy and honoured to announce the 10th anniversary of the Miss Tibet Pageant..

And like bees to honey, the journalists love the assignment, knowing the front page potential..

TENZIN KECHOE from Minneapolis has catwalk experience. She holds the crown for Miss Tibet

North America. I am here representing all the Tibetan women

from North America Business graduate TENZIN SANGMO, a popular

local entrant, is tall with model good looks. I think this is a good platform for all the

Tibetan woman's to come up.. At 17 - TENZIN YANKI from Switzerland is the

least experienced. Hi everyone I am the youngest here of the

five girls. My name is TENZIN YANKI... I am 17 years old..

I think all girls look very intelligent and beautiful yeah so I have to be really seriously

and hopefully I will do it.

Surrounded by beautiful young women, LOBSANG is right in his element.....

..... a Tibetan Hugh Hefner with a political message ... and the showmanship to pull it

off. Miss Tibet Pageant has elements of both uniting

and dividing factors. His Holiness Dalai Lama said that the only thing wrong with Miss Tibet

is that there is no Mr Tibet ... therefore there is inequality

That's his view about beauty pageant is physical beauty is important but inner beauty is more

important .. perfect you know ideal! LOBSANG is proud of the ideals of his pageant,

particularly his choice of judges Judges all non-Tibetans so that there are

no controversies after .. mostly Indians and westerners.

Every morning the pressure is on,to be on time, to look good.

The perfect Miss Tibet will be like the deity TARA. TARA is in Buddhism, the most perfect

woman. Oh my legs are all paining like that because

of this yoga it's killing me There's no time to rest before the next photo-call

- for LOBSANG's website. Number 1 is the physical attraction because

that is really the first sight like that.. That's great ... beautiful

Secondly I want her to be like warm heartedness, the way Dalai Lama put it.. warm heartedness

warmth kindness that is very important that is the essence

And then to be able to speak about Tibetan issues Tibetan problems, what ever, particularly

about Tibetan woman. There are daily lessons in Tibetan issues.

..All the teachers are men. So she must embody all these different important

qualities. Halfway through their training week the contestants

are exhausted I am going to be sick tomorrow. I don't want

to go to yoga We have to go to yoga again tomorrow I don't

think it is possible

All the girls are all getting on very well, you know. When there is a competition, girls

are like a cat fight right but we are not like that

The contestants want to meet Tibetan women, so LOBSANG squeezes in a visit to 83 year

old living legend Ama Adhe, a saintly survivor of an 28 years in a Chinese jail.

Starving is the hardest way to die but I was young and prayed the mantra of Tara

for God to preserve me. With LOBSANGs chaotic schedule it's almost

impossible to find a little time for the essential girls trip to the beauty parlour.

I have never done waxing for private things ...

DOLMA lets no obstacles get in her way Dolma: It just no hair at all . Dolma Tsering:-

I am scared, Yanki :- I don't want to do it While LOBSANG mans the phones..

DOLMA organizes a private rehearsal away from the hotel

She needs practice with a microphone to get her confidence back

if she can beat a lingering throat infection, her singing voice may give her the winning

edge in the Talent Round Shit I have to sing in front of 5000 people

Yet Miss Tibet is not the most important show in town.

The Dalai Lama has decided to step down as political leader, but remain as spiritual

leader. This transition is a huge transition. A transition

from one political leadership to a newly elected political leadership and from one generation

to another .. The incoming Prime Minister LOBSANG SANGAY

takes a very politic middle path on the beauty pageant .

As for Miss Tibet, LOBSANG WANGYAL asked me to be one of the advisory board members and

I refused. It's not that I am against Miss Tibet, I feel very uncomfortable seeing Tibetan

women in swimsuit. What do you reckon? One piece is better?

But not everyone agrees with the new Prime Minister..

The organizer is saying, if you wear one piece that you are unconfident, he told everyone,

so all the girls decided to wear two pieces now.

Tahnee showed me some cheeky styles Half turn and standing like that and half turn

A late change of venue for the swim suit round sees LOBSANGs loyal stage crew have to improvise

- Tibetan style He chooses an open bush setting at a nearby

mountain stream. Good sort of under control There were a some

like hiccups at the start but all is under control

and the strictly 'Non Tibetan' judges, have prior experience...

Well I am very good at judging dog shows ... being a vet . Very similar categories actually Figure,

Posture, Poise, very similar to dog show judging I am married to a Tibetan. And I am in and

out with them, so I know them very well. So I am the best judge..

In the make-up tent, there is no turning back ...it's almost time..

Ladies and Gentlemen The first contestant in the Miss Tibet pageant 2011 Miss Chime

Lanzhom..

and wearing a bikini doesn't come any harder than this ..

Across stony ground.... in very high heels.. in time to loud distorted music....

And when it's Dolma's turn to run the gauntlet, she needs all her skill not to stumble.

Then Dolma's main rival, Miss Tibet USA, 19 year old TENZIN KECHOE steps out with the

ease of a professional model. And the last young TENZIN YANKI from Switzerland

finds her rhythm only at the last minute LOBSANG's loyal press corps get their unlikely

shots. TIBET packaged in bikinis. I love living in India (laughs) where else

does this sort of thing happen? and you get to suddenly become a judge a Miss Tibet Swimsuit

pageant Its great... As the sunset shines the snow above, today's

glamour is over. Dolma still has two days of stiff competition

ahead of her..

The new morning brings MISS TIBET to the front pages again.

LOBSANGs media equation worked perfectly- pretty girls in small bikinis mean big exposure

in the newspapers.. I got the highest mark in the swim round

I am feeling very confident for the rest of the evening. Tonight we have talent rounds

and the talk rounds -- all my costumes Bollywood costumes and Tibetan Costumes and my friends

are coming to help me to dress up all I have to do is show my talents and the talk round

and I'm kind of ready But despite her optimism, DOLMA still struggles

with her sore throat Dolma sings freedom song in Tibetan in bush

While the theatre fills to capacity ... backstage, getting ready, it's a family affair

The contestants all fear the talk round At only an hour's notice ... they have to

speak in English, to a Tibetan topic drawn from LOBSANGs ballot -

Here are the questions for the 6 girls DOLMAs subject is highly charged..

We recently heard about the recent tensions and crackdowns around Kirti Monastery

She must talk about the recent self- immolations by monks and nuns inside Tibet.

We recently heard news.. o tension and crackdown Although she starts confidently ... DOLMA

falters, but recovers well .

Tenzin Kechoe has all the breeze of a young American...

Shy Tenzin Yanki keeps her talk very short - but scores a direct hit with her last line.

Stop HIV before it's too late... and don't forget - use condom

In the lighthearted talent round, all the contestants have a shot at Bollywood dance

Only DOLMA uses her maximum stage time to show off her vocal skills

Her Tibetan opera is an instant hit. And her voice holds up for the difficult freedom

song..

Time lapse arena setup As the evening closes in on finale night..

2 thousand people crowd eagerly around the catwalk at the Tibetan Institute of Performing

Arts. We coming up with our questions now questions

now yeah ...collaborate so we don't ask the same thing...

Backstage it's frantic... What do you think black is better or without

black? Ready... T-shirts and Jeans

And then its show time So Ladies and Gentlemen the man behind the

show Mr LOBSANG WANGYAL

It's Lobsangs night of nights...And time for him to shake that silver suit

The contestants are straight back in the spot lights - for the introduction round.

My name is Tenzin Sangmo I was born and brought up here in Dharamsala

This past week I had so many opportunities... I met with ex-political prisoner Ama Adhe.....

Miss Tibet is not just a beauty pageant, but it is a political act, because Miss Tibet

celebrates our identity, our culture and our proud tradition...

It's a country town variety show, with Tibetan guest artists, a local Indian Dance troupe

and ....LOBSANG's fire-works. ...Backstage DOLMA steps up for the next round

Miss Ngodup DOLMA It's time to launch her secret weapon -- her

Tibetan flag inspired evening gown. Miss Ngodup Dolma

In her interview round DOLMA takes a very difficult question

Buddhism and the Dalia Lama teach about selflessness and try to get rid of the ego.. and yet you

are competing in a beauty pageant. How do you reconcile this as a representative of

Tibetan Buddhism And acquits herself well in response

I totally agree with you that inner beauty is more important than outer beauty.......Outer

beauty lasts just temporarily you are beautiful ... but if you are beautiful inside you are

beautiful forever.. while LOBSANG tallies up backstage ....

in the crowd, the tension builds And the winner of the Miss Tibet Pageant 2011

is ....

and the winner is ....Miss Tenzin Yanki. Tenzin Yanki's win is a shock result.....

and no one is more surprised than the young Swiss Tibetan herself.

DOLMA from Melbourne is declared runner up. and LOBSANG struts the silver suit once more

In the dressing room Tenzin YANKI's family gets ready to party.. and the other contestants

each try to come to terms with the surprise result ..

I think Kechoe should win ..... she deserves it

Kechoe is philosophical --while Dolma is strangely quiet. The following morning there is still such

dismay about the result the girls meet ... I think LOBSANG WANGYAL is a fraud He cheated,

everyone knows that. We want to know the truth. We want to know

how did the process go? In solidarity, the girls decide to confront

LOBSANG,. I decided to come to this pageant because

I saw you as a good ideal Tibetan man who wanted to do something for Tibetan youth and

empower Tibetan women When Dolma calmly asks to see the marking

sheets, LOBSANG conveniently claims to have lost them.

I don't have the judges' sheet.. it was stolen .. on the night.

It is not in the file. The file is empty He said the judging sheets have been lost

....somebody stole them When I went onstage somebody stole it

I was also surprised Uncomfortable with such a challenge from feisty,

assertive women -- LOBSANG asks them to leave Go - Get lost

DOLMA firmly stands her ground determined to get a truthful answer about the marking,

I told you everything, now please get out! Under pressure - LOBSANG finally discloses

his secret assessment system.. Each category has 20 marks

So add it up... He reveals that the non-Tibetan judges are

in control of only 25% of the evaluation the other 75% of the assessment process is

totally in LOBSANGs hands ... so much for his Non Tibetan judges..

Why didn't you tell me before..I have been wasting my time..

DOLMA loses her cool. She feels strongly that LOBSANG has manipulated the result.

What can I do about it now. It's over. You

are too selfish You deceived us by not telling us before the

Pageant You are a fraud

Yes I am now please go Miss Tibet should be someone

who is calm and listens and be respectful and see if this is how Miss Tibet will be

Oh my God No. Oh my god

I have come to think that Lobsang Wangyal's Pageant doesn't empower Tibetan women. It

does the opposite, it disempowers Tibetan women. So I believe the only way it could

have any value is if it were run by a women. And that doesn't look likely to happen any

time soon This is my baby!

Ten Years Old