Sonie Rajbhandari was then given the title of Miss Nepal Earth 2014 (1st runner up) Winners' gallery State titles There is an unofficial formula to determine the states and regions represented in Nepal. The base number of contestants over the last decade has been 19–20, which can be increased or decreased by pageant's management. Official states (20) * Denotes that state has a preliminary pageant – which may or may not still be held – as of 2014 only Biratnagar, Chitwan, Dharan, Itahari, Jhapa and Pokhara held preliminaries. ** Denotes that state has been represented through the Miss Purwanchal (Miss Eastern Region) preliminary. Additionally, two states, Chitwan and Pokhara hold their own individual pageants. Official regions (5) Kathmandu Valley ((Nepali: काठमाडौं उपत्यका, Nepal Bhasa: स्वनिगः) Capital valley of Nepal includes Bhaktapur, Kathmandu, Kirtipur and Lalitpur.) Chitwan Valley ((Nepali: चितवन उपत्यका) Southwestern valley of Nepal includes Chitwan, Makwanpur and Nawalparasi.) Pokhara Valley ((Nepali: पोखरा उपत्यका) Western valley of Nepal includes Pokhara and Lekhnath.) Eastern Region ((Nepali: पुर्वाञ्चल विकास क्षेत्र) Eastern Region of Nepal includes Biratnagar, Dharan, Itahari and Jhapa.) Far-Western Region ((Nepali: सुदुर पश्चिमाञ्चल विकास क्षेत्र) Far Western Region of Nepal includes Dhangadhi and Mahendranagar, Dadeldhura, Baitadi, Bajhang, Darchula, Doti, Achham.) Biratnagar, Dharan, Itahari and Jhapa are regions of Eastern Region and are titles handed out at the Miss Purwanchal preliminary. As of 1995 Pokhara has its own preliminary. Together, these 20 regions form the "base" of the Miss Nepal contest. However, at times other regions and territories have been represented. However, many times the pageant has been criticized for having lack of diversity interns of selection of candidates. Due to the reason that many girls from Kathmandu Valley are represented and are consistent in the pageant per year which resulted in the most winners from the Kathmandu Valley. However, since 2013, the pageant has decided to include more candidates from outside the Capital Valley. International franchise titles Miss Nepal sends delegates to participate in the Big Four international beauty pageants including 2 minor international pageants. Note that the year designates the time Nepal has acquired that particular pageant franchise. Current franchise Big Five international beauty pageants: Miss World (1997–present) Miss Earth (2002–present) Miss International (2000, 2005, reacquired in 2010–present) Miss Universe (2017–2019) (The contest now under a different franchise headed By Nagma Shrestha) Miss Supranational (2018–present) Minor international beauty pageants: Miss Asia Pacific International (1994–present) Representatives at Big Four pageants