{{short description|Nepalese accountant and beauty queen}} {{Use dmy dates|date=May 2019}} {{Infobox person | name = Anushka Shrestha | image = Anushka Shrestha.jpg | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1996|01|18}} | birth_place = Kathmandu, Nepal | education = Bachelor of Commerce | occupation = {{ubl|Member of Parliament, [[Pratinidhi Sabha]]|Founder and CEO, Makkusé }} | political_party = [[Rastriya Swatantra Party]] | awards = [[Miss World Nepal 2019]] }}
'''Anushka Shrestha''' ({{langx|ne|अनुष्का श्रेष्ठ}}) is a Member of Parliament of Nepal, Nepali politician, entrepreneur, and beauty pageant titleholder who won [[Miss Nepal 2019]]. She is the founder and CEO of [https://makkuse.com/ Makkusé], a Nepali desserts brand aiming to promote, preserve, and innovate Nepali dessert recipes such as gundpak and pustakari.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2021-07-30 |title=Makkuse: The Miss Nepal's startup can make Nepal's identity more delicious - OnlineKhabar English News |url=https://english.onlinekhabar.com/makkuse-miss-nepal-startup-can-make-nepal-identity-more-delicious.html |access-date=2026-03-31 |language=en-GB}}</ref>
==Early life and education== Shrestha was born in [[Kathmandu]], Nepal. She completed her [[School Leaving Certificate (Nepal)|S.L.C]] from Triyog High School and her +2 from Ace Higher Secondary School. She has a [[bachelor's degree]] in Commerce from the [[Australian Catholic University]] <ref name=":0">{{cite web |date=10 May 2019 |title=Anushka crowned MISS NEPAL WORLD 2019 |url=https://thehimalayantimes.com/nepal/anushka-crowned-miss-nepal-world-2019/ |accessdate=10 May 2019 |website=The Himalayan Times |archive-date=1 April 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220401083259/https://thehimalayantimes.com/nepal/anushka-crowned-miss-nepal-world-2019/ |url-status=live }}</ref> where she received the Executive Dean's Commendation for academic excellence and was the valedictorian of her graduating class.
== Career == During her Bachelor of Commerce (Accounting) at Australian Catholic University in Sydney, Shrestha undertook an internship at the [[Secretariat for the Economy|Secretariat for the Economy of the Holy See]] in Vatican City from March to June 2016, working alongside [[KPMG]] and [[PwC|PWC]] on financial reform initiatives.<ref>{{Cite web |title=मिस नेपाल अनुष्का श्रेष्ठ : उद्यमी हुँदै संसद्सम्म |url=https://ekantipur.com/politics/2026/03/23/anushkas-new-identity-39-06.html |access-date=2026-03-31 |website=Ekantipur |language=ne}}</ref> After graduating, she worked with ACU in various roles, serving as a Assistant International Student Advisor and later as Finance Officer. She also held a position as Audit Administrator at the Commonwealth Bank of Australia from June 2018 to March 2019.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Who is Miss Nepal 2019 Anushka Shrestha? |url=https://english.khabarhub.com/2019/09/19841/ |access-date=2026-03-31 |website=Khabarhub |language=en}}</ref>
After returning to Nepal, she worked as the Regional Manager for her alma mater from 2020 to January 2026. In this role, she led pilot programs to strengthen academic relationships between Australia and Nepal such as study tours for Australian nursing students in Nepali hospitals.<ref>{{Cite web |title=ACU training saving eyesight in Nepal |url=https://www.acu.edu.au/about-acu/news/2025/march/acu-training-saving-eyesight-in-nepal |access-date=2026-03-31 |website=www.acu.edu.au |language=en}}</ref>
In 2020, Shrestha co-founded Makkusé, a Nepali artisan dessert brand dedicated to reviving and promoting traditional Nepali sweets, including Gundpak and Pustakari, with an aim to position authentic Nepali flavour in the global culinary market.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-08-08 |title=Makkuse: A local luxury brand with authentic Nepali taste |url=https://d2l6fjvu7g4rze.cloudfront.net/news/makkuse-a-local-luxury-brand-with-authentic-nepali-taste |access-date=2026-03-31 |website=d2l6fjvu7g4rze.cloudfront.net |language=English}}</ref>
==Pageantry== === Miss Nepal Oceania 2018 === In 2018, Shrestha competed in and won Miss Nepal Oceania 2019, held in Australia.<ref name=":1">{{cite web |title=XCELTRIP Mr/Miss/Mrs Nepal Oceania 2018 |url=http://www.unae.org.au/mr-miss-mrs-nepal-oceania-2017/ |website=UNAE |accessdate=10 May 2019 |language=en-AU |archive-date=10 May 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190510231647/http://www.unae.org.au/mr-miss-mrs-nepal-oceania-2017/ |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Setopati |first1=सेतोपाटी संवाददाता |title=अनुष्का श्रेष्ठ बनिन् 'मिस नेपाल २०१९'(तस्बिरहरू) |url=https://www.setopati.com/art/art-activity/180349 |website=Setopati |accessdate=10 May 2019 |archive-date=10 May 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190510014908/https://www.setopati.com/art/art-activity/180349 |url-status=live }}</ref>
=== Miss Nepal 2019 === Shrestha won Miss Nepal 2019 on 9 May 2019, at the Laboratory H.S. premises, [[Kirtipur]], Nepal. She competed against twenty-four others, and was crowned by [[Shrinkhala Khatiwada]], [[Miss Nepal 2018]]. Shrestha also won the Miss Intellectual and Miss Fascino awards.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://beautypageants.indiatimes.com/Anushka-Shrestha-crowned-Miss-Nepal-2019/Anushka-Shrestha-crowned-Miss-Nepal-2019/eventshow/69266868.cms|title=Anushka Shrestha crowned Miss Nepal 2019|work=beautypageants|access-date=27 October 2022|archive-date=5 February 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240205134812/https://platform.twitter.com/widgets/widget_iframe.2f70fb173b9000da126c79afe2098f02.html?origin=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.femina.in|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=अनुष्का बनिन् 'मिस नेपाल वर्ल्ड–२०१९'को विजेता(फोटो फिचरसहित) |url=https://www.onlinekhabar.com/2019/05/764780 |website=Online Khabar |accessdate=10 May 2019 |archive-date=23 October 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231023164816/https://www.onlinekhabar.com/2019/05/764780 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Neupane |first1=Aditya |title=Anushka Shrestha crowned Miss Nepal 2019 |url=https://myrepublica.nagariknetwork.com/news/anushka-shrestha-crowned-miss-nepal-2019/?categoryId=opinion |website=My Republica |accessdate=10 May 2019 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=अनुष्का श्रेष्ठले पहिरिन 'मिस नेपाल २०१९'को ताज |url=https://www.nayapatrikadaily.com/news-details/13705/2019-05-09 |website=Naya Patrika |accessdate=10 May 2019 |language=ne |archive-date=23 October 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231023171603/https://www.nayapatrikadaily.com/news-details/13705/2019-05-09 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=अनुष्का श्रेष्ठ बनिन् यस वर्षको मिस नेपाल वर्ल्ड |url=https://ratopati.com/story/86794/2019/5/9/miss-nepal-world |website=RatoPati |accessdate=10 May 2019 |language=Nepali |archive-date=10 May 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190510014916/https://ratopati.com/story/86794/2019/5/9/miss-nepal-world |url-status=live }}</ref>
=== Miss World 2019 === After Shrestha was given the title of [[Miss Nepal|Miss World Nepal]] 2019, she went on to represent Nepal at [[Miss World 2019]] at [[ExCeL London]], United Kingdom on 14 December 2019, where she reached the top 12.<ref name=":0" /> She also won the Beauty With a Purpose and Multimedia awards along with the Head-to-Head Challenge subtitle.<ref name=":2">{{cite web |date=14 December 2019 |title=The Himalayan Times - Miss Nepal Anushka Shrestha wins Beauty with a Purpose title |url=https://thehimalayantimes.com/nepal/miss-nepal-anushka-shrestha-wins-beauty-with-a-purpose-title/ |accessdate=14 December 2019 |website=thehimalayantimes.com |archive-date=1 April 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220401083257/https://thehimalayantimes.com/nepal/miss-nepal-anushka-shrestha-wins-beauty-with-a-purpose-title/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
== Political career == Shrestha joined the [[Rastriya Swatantra Party]] (RSP), a centrist political party in Nepal.
In the [[2026 Nepalese general election]] held on 5 March 2026, Shrestha was elected to the House of Representatives as a Member of Parliament under the proportional representation system, representing the Indigenous [[Janajati people|Janajati]] women's cluster.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Who will represent the Rastriya Swatantra Party in proportional seats-and how are they chosen? |url=https://english.nepalnews.com/s/politics/who-will-represent-the-rastriya-swatantra-party-in-proportional-seats-and-how-are-they-chosen/ |access-date=2026-03-31 |website=Nepal News |language=en}}</ref> Her parliamentary focus areas include promoting Nepali products in international markets, meaningful indigenous representation, women's rights and empowerment, and education.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2026-03-16 |title=3 celebrities set to appear in Parliament: Balen, Rima and Anushka - OnlineKhabar English News |url=https://english.onlinekhabar.com/3-celebrities-set-to-appear-in-parliament-balen-rima-and-anushka.html |access-date=2026-03-31 |language=en-GB}}</ref>
== Accolades ==
* Miss Nepal Oceania 2018 <ref name=":3">{{Cite web |last=Pokhrel |first=Nishant |date=2019-05-10 |title=Anushka crowned MISS NEPAL WORLD 2019 |url=https://thehimalayantimes.com/nepal/anushka-crowned-miss-nepal-world-2019 |access-date=2026-03-31 |website=The Himalayan Times |language=en}}</ref> * Miss Intellectual — Miss Nepal 2019 <ref name=":3" /> * Miss Fascino — Miss Nepal 2019 <ref name=":3" /> * Miss Nepal World 2019 <ref name=":3" /> * Beauty with a Purpose Award — Miss World 2019 <ref name=":2" /> * Multimedia Award — Miss World 2019 <ref name=":2" /> * Head-to-Head Challenge Winner — Miss World 2019 <ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-08-08 |title=Anushka makes it to top 12 and wins two major awards in Miss world 2019 |url=https://myrepublica.nagariknetwork.com/news/miss-nepal-anushka-shrestha-ends-her-miss-world-journey-with-top-12-title |access-date=2026-03-31 |website=myrepublica.nagariknetwork.com |language=English}}</ref> * Ranked 3rd, Top 10 Women Entrepreneurs in South Asia — The InCap Magazine, 2022 <ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-08-08 |title=Former Miss Nepal Anushka Shrestha listed among Top 10 Women Entrepreneurs in South Asia |url=https://myrepublica.nagariknetwork.com/news/former-miss-nepal-anushka-shrestha-listed-among-top-10-women-entrepreneurs-in-south-asia |access-date=2026-03-31 |website=myrepublica.nagariknetwork.com |language=English}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=2022-08-06 |title=Top 10 Women Entrepreneurs in South Asia of 2022 - The InCAP |url=https://theincap.com/top-10-women-entrepreneurs-in-south-asia-of-2022/ |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20250514172911/https://theincap.com/top-10-women-entrepreneurs-in-south-asia-of-2022/ |archive-date=2025-05-14 |access-date=2026-03-31 |work=The InCAP |language=en-US}}</ref> * Emerging Woman Entrepreneur of the Year, Bagmati Province — Standard Chartered NewBiz Business Women Summit & Awards, 2023 <ref>{{Cite web |title=13 women entrepreneurs honoured at ‘Standard Chartered NewBiz Women Summit & Awards 2023' |url=https://www.b360nepal.com/detail/169/13-women-entrepreneurs-honoured-at-standard-chartered-newbiz-women-summit-awards-2023/ |access-date=2026-03-31 |website=13 women entrepreneurs honoured at ‘Standard Chartered NewBiz Women Summit & Awards 2023’}}</ref> * Saksham Naari Samman — 2023 <ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-08-08 |title=NRM Executive Director Gyawali among nine women felicitated with Saksham Nari Samman 2079 BS |url=https://www.myrepublica.nagariknetwork.com/news/nrm-executive-director-gyawali-among-nine-women-felicitated-with-saksham-nari-samman-2079-bs |access-date=2026-03-31 |website=www.myrepublica.nagariknetwork.com |language=English}}</ref> * Glocal Skill Hero Award — Entrepreneurship category 2026<ref>{{Cite web |last=Online |first=T. H. T. |date=2026-01-21 |title=Five veterans receive Skill Hero Award at Skill Week 2026 |url=https://thehimalayantimes.com/kathmandu/five-veterans-receive-skill-hero-award-at-skill-week-2026 |access-date=2026-03-31 |website=The Himalayan Times |language=en}}</ref>
== References == {{Reflist}}
==External links== * {{commons-inline}} *[http://missnepal.com.np/2019/ Missnepal.com.np]{{Dead link|date=June 2020 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}
{{s-start}} {{S-ach}} {{succession box | before= [[Shrinkhala Khatiwada]] | title= [[Miss Nepal|Miss Nepal World]] | years = 2019 | after = [[Namrata Shrestha (Miss Nepal World 2020)|Namrata Shrestha]] }} {{succession box | before={{flagicon|Nepal}} [[Shrinkhala Khatiwada]] | title= [[Miss World|Beauty with a Purpose]] | years= 2019 | after={{flagicon|Kenya}} Sharon Obara}} {{S-bef|before={{flagicon|Nepal}} [[Shrinkhala Khatiwada]]}} {{S-ttl|title=[[Miss World|Multimedia Winner]] |years=[[Miss World 2019|2019]]}} {{S-aft|after={{flagicon|Ivory Coast}} Olivia Yacé}} {{s-end}}
{{Nepalese Beauty Pageant Representatives |Year = 2019 |Universe = [[Pradeepta Adhikari]] |World = Anushka Shrestha |International = Meera Kakshapati |Earth = Riya Basnet |Supranational= [[Rose Lama]] |World Miss University =N/A }} {{Miss World 2019 delegates}} {{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Shrestha, Anushka}} [[Category:Living people]] [[Category:Miss Nepal winners]] [[Category:Nepalese beauty pageant winners]] [[Category:Miss World 2019 delegates]] [[Category:Businesspeople from Kathmandu]] [[Category:Rastriya Swatantra Party politicians]] [[Category:1996 births]]