Sombaria’s Nunam Phung Subba finishes in top-3 at Miss Grandiose Northeast

ISABELLA GURUNG

GANGTOK,: Nunam Phung Subba from Sombaria, West Sikkim, secured Miss Charm Northeast 2026 title (Top 3 at Miss Grandiose Northeast 2026), held in Jorhat, Assam, from October 27 to 29.

Daughter of Malum DhojSubba and Santoshi Subba, the 21-year-old is pursuing a Bachelor's degree in Community Science at Assam Agricultural University, Jorhat.

“I have always been interested in pageantry, but after a long gap, I decided to participate in Miss Phoenix 2026 in March, an event organised at a nearby engineering college. I won the Miss Phoenix 2026 crown, and the organisers invited me to participate in Miss Grandiose. It was an opportunity I couldn't miss,” Subba told SIKKIM EXPRESS.

Speaking about her achievement, Subba said she was proud of herself as she had never expected to reach this level, having often doubted her own abilities.

“Winning the Miss Charm Northeast title makes me feel really proud of myself because I never expected to reach this level. I always doubted myself and wondered whether I could do it. But this time, I decided to give it my all.

“More than being among the top three and winning the title, which I obviously value, I cherish the entire experience, the people I met and the friends I made from different states across the Northeast. The cultural exchange I experienced with them was really valuable, and that is what I will cherish the most,” she said.

Balancing her academic commitments with pageant preparations was another challenge, as her degree involves extensive practical work and assignments alongside theoretical studies.

“It was honestly really difficult because my degree is quite multifaceted, and I have to devote a lot of time to it. There are many practicals and assignments, not just theory,” she said.

Subba added that she practised walking in heels at home while carrying out her daily chores to get accustomed to wearing them. Having never attended professional pageant training classes, she relied on YouTube and other online resources to learn the basics.

“I used to wear my heels and do my chores for 10 to 20 minutes so that I could get used to walking in them. I have never attended any professional classes, so I learnt everything from YouTube and other online resources,” she said.

She added that she received actual grooming only during the two or three days of preparation provided by the organisers before the pageant.

“I have always enjoyed reading philosophy books and random blogs. I think that helped me enhance my vocabulary and understand how to communicate better. Learning about different philosophies and applying them in life also helped me a lot,” she said.

At the age of 15, Nunam participated in Miss Teen Sikkim, organised by Sikkim Glamour World, where she won a subtitle.

She plans to participate in more regional and national-level pageants in the future while continuing to pursue her education.