Who is Jane Dipika Garrett? Well, the 23-year-old crushed a lot of barriers and body-image standards when she became Miss Universe Nepal 2023, making history as the first plus size contestant to compete in the international pageant when she placed in the Top 20.
Garrett’s semi-final victory led her to the forefront of most Miss Universe conversations, with many raving and even ranting about her revolutionary walk. However, while her celebratory sash may have been a debate piece for others, it marked an internal accomplishment for the once-aspiring participant.
Garrett achieved a longtime goal that impacted the world and the adolescent Jane, who fawned over the idea of gaining a spot on the glamorous runway.
Let’s get to know more about the Gen Z-er below.
Who Is Jane Dipika Garrett? How Her Miss Universe Journey Began
Born in the United States and raised in Nepal, Garrett’s grand entrance came in October 2000 to a Nepali mother and an American father. According to reports, her father is from Pennsylvania, but when she was 10, the family packed up from the States and relocated to her mother’s homeland, Nepal.
In a personal essay published in Business Insider, Garrett recalled discovering the Miss Universe pageant in 2012, when she watched model/actress Olivia Culpo take home the winning title. If you didn’t know, Miss Universe is a prestigious beauty organization where potential queens from different countries battle for the legendary crown. Founded by clothing manufacturer Pacific Knitting Mills, the global contest officially commenced in 1952.
“I was like, ‘I want to be on that stage. I’d love to do that,’” Garrett wrote of Culpo’s triumph. “That moment really, really inspired me.”
Unfortunately, she soon lost sight of that desire due to mental health issues, and at the tender age of 16, Garrett experienced a bout with self-harm. “I dealt with a lot of bullying, depression, and anxiety as a child. For a while, that dream just kind of faded into the background,” she continued.
Garrett starved herself until she was eventually diagnosed with anorexia. Additionally, she suffered a hormone imbalance but didn’t find out until later in life that she had PCOS (Polycystic Ovary Syndrome) and Borderline Personality Disorder after gaining 30 pounds.
“I always had irregular periods, mood swings, depression, a lot of body hair, and I would gain weight very easily,” Garrett explained. “It made me feel insecure about myself. I would compare myself to other girls and feel like I wasn’t skinny enough.”
For the rising star, the Miss Universe pageant was a Godsend, as she recounted being on the verge of ending her life before signing up for the competition. She added, “I didn’t think I would win [Miss Universe Nepal], I just joined to gain experience and confidence. I embraced myself, and I was there for a purpose–to represent real-size beauty.”
It’s safe to say… Garrett did just that.
“Top 20 baby! I’m grateful to all my fans and people who supported me. I gave my best, and that’s what matters!” she gushed in an Instagram post about her time with the MU team. “I’m so proud to be representing real-size beauty pageants. So proud of the new Miss Universe [Sheynnis Palacios] and will forever cherish this season of my life that was life-changing!”
What Is Jane Dipika Garrett Doing Now?
Following her recognition as Miss Universe Nepal 2023, Garrett has continued growing her body positivity presence online. With over 300,000 followers on Instagram, 43,000 supporters on Facebook, and an account with 250,000+ on TikTok, the young lady’s lifestyle content brand is thriving!
Currently, Jane Dipika Garrett also runs her YouTube channel, where she records vlogs of her day-to-day and motivational videos for her subscribers. Aside from content creation, she’s the co-founder of JYNXX Restro and Bar in Kathmandu, Nepal and Undaunted Wears and a nurse. In April, she was announced as one of the judges for Miss P&I India 2024.
Despite the negativity, Garrett prides herself on overcoming stereotypes and uses her platform to spread awareness about women’s health and esteem-building.
“What about being fit? No one is speaking about health. Being overweight impacts health tremendously,” a commenter rudely dropped under one of her Instagram photos. “Let’s not normalize habits that over time will greatly lower the quality of our lives.”
But… the love definitely has outshined the hate. One of Garrett’s admirers bragged under the same image, “I love you, and thank you for representing plus size girls for us. Now I need my own crown, too.”
It’s great to see that this gorgeous woman’s wishes are still coming true.
Drop your congratulations on Garrett’s success below!
