Angel Lama is making history as the first transgender woman to be a finalist in the Miss Universe Nepal finals on Wednesday.
The Himalayan nation is only the third country in Asia to allow trans contestants in their national pageants, after Myanmar and Mongolia, according to LGBT+ activists.
21-year-old Lama has made it to the top 18 this year after Nepal relaxed rules accepting participation from any 'bold, beautiful and confident woman' between 18 and 28 years, irrespective of height, weight and appearance, reports Reuters.