by Ushma Giri I was born and raised in Kathmandu, Nepal. I grew up in a traditional Hindu family. My family was always flexible and supportive but our custom and tradition counted first no matter how modern we have become. My parents taught me to be disciplined and to respect elderly people, which are the highly valued traits in Nepali culture. My parents sent me to a private school called GEMS. My dad was in San Francisco, working hard to make our future better. And, my mom, I and my younger brother were in Nepal. We missed our dad. Finally, my mom, I and my brother came to New York and our family was reunited after 5/6 years. But my parents gave me the best childhood ever. They never denied to anything that we wanted. They provided us with every good food we could afford, every toy that we wanted. They were the best parents ever. They are my biggest support and my strength and my weakness. Ushma fasting for the Teej festival :) I was always interested in fashion since my childhood. From the time I was little, I would get a whacked pair of pants, really cheap, cut them up and make a beautiful tiny mini skirt out of them because I was on a low budget at that time. Also, my mom bought me some tops, where I added my little decoration. I would look at my mom putting make up and I tried putting on some when I was 8 years old. I still remember, one day I decided to do a little fashion show for my family. I put on makeup and dress and try to look like my mom. My father laughed at what I did to myself, when he saw me all doll up. My parents told me that I was the most beautiful girl they had ever seen. Beauty Ushma Now that I am old enough to know about fashion and pageant shows, I decided to participate in Miss Nepal US 2014. It is such an honor to be a part of this pageant. I always wanted to participate in the pageant show since my childhood and finally, had an opportunity to participate in one. Opportunities/ challenges like this don’t always come your way and I feel blessed that I have been given this opportunity to enhance myself. I am thrilled to be a part of it, not caring whether I would lose or win, rather it will be a great experience for me to grow as a person. Ushma Giri Besides modeling and fashion, I am a simple woman. I am passionate about what I do. I am driven and confident. I am a people person. I really enjoy meeting new people and working with a lot of different people. I am efficient and highly organized, which enables me to be productive. My aim is to become a physician assistant, so I keep the eye on my target. Beautiful Ushma in a Nepali saree :) My parents highly motivate me to do whatever I put myself into. I was planning to participate in Miss Nepal US 2014 and my parents said, “Go ahead and make us proud. We believe in you.” My friends also support me and tell me that I am fun to be around. In my free time, I volunteer to teach high school students. I am enthusiastic and have enough motivation for myself. I love what I do. I love learning new things. I make sure I am up to date with recent happenings. Ushma in sync with the nature I am driven to stay fit and workout. I eat healthy and go jogging every morning. I take yoga classes on weekends. I dance and go swimming whenever I have a chance. It’s a good way to get more cardio exercise. But getting some ice cream once in a while is not bad either to reward you for working hard. I would like to suggest all the youngsters who want to stay fit and look good by staying positive and smiling. Ushma and the roses :) Drinking lots of water instead of sodas, energy drink, etc. is good for your health. Ask your family and friends to support you; it will be a lot easier. Eat healthy balanced diet with lots of fruits and vegetables. Start exercise routine with a small workout like go jogging, running, sit ups, jumping jacks. Walk, dance, play sports do whatever keeps you going. Have fun, don’t stop. Treat yourself once in a while with chocolates for working hard. And, make sure you get enough sleep. Ushma chillin’ with friends in Elmhurst :)