Kohima, February 8: Nagaland’s capital Kohima hosted the grand finale of Miss Northeast 2026 on Saturday night at the Regional Centre of Excellence for Music & Performing Arts (RCEMPA) in Jotsoma, bringing together contestants, designers, artistes and pageant enthusiasts from across the region.
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| Miss Northeast 2026 Shakshi Biswakarma is flanked by first runner-up Nikali K Shohe (Nagaland) and second runner-up Thadoi Yunman (Manipur) at the grand finale in Kohima. |
Twenty-one-year-old Shakshi Biswakarma from Assam was crowned Miss Northeast 2026 at the glittering finale. Biswakarma, who had earlier won the Miss Assam 2024 title, impressed the judges with her poise, confidence and stage presence.
The first runner-up title went to Nikali K Shohe (22) from Nagaland, while Thadoi Yunman (22) from Manipur was declared the second runner-up.
A total of 13 finalists - two each from Meghalaya, Nagaland, Manipur, Assam and Sikkim, and one from Mizoram - competed for the coveted crown. The top five finalists were Thadoi Yunman (Manipur), Nikali K Shohe (Nagaland), Shakshi Biswakarma (Assam), Anon Konyak (Nagaland) and Catherine Defini Diengdoh (Meghalaya).
President of the Beauty and Aesthetics Society of Nagaland (BASN), Mele Pucho, said that although it was not Nagaland’s scheduled turn to host the pageant, the venue was shifted to Kohima due to unforeseen circumstances in Assam in 2025, where the event was originally planned.
The Miss Northeast pageant is initiated by the Northeast Beauty Pageant Organisation (NBPO) - a collective of official state pageant organisers - and managed by BASN.
The judging panel comprised Ruopfuzhano Whiso, Jentiren Jamir, Professor Theyie Keditsu, and Youngchul Kim. Theja Sekhose served as the official choreographer, while Mele Pucho was the show director for the evening.
The finale featured performances by a host of regional artistes including Azi Rudy, Keneisezonuo Keretsii, Elizabeth Khing, Chen L, Vetho Rhakho, Tajenyuba, Sentein Kichu, Himshan Chuba, Weritsho Keyho, and the Sync Dance Group.
Subtitle winners at Miss Northeast 2026 were:
• Miss Multimedia: Vanlalremruatpuii
• Miss Talent: Catherine Defini Diengdoh
• Miss Perfect: Nikali K Shohe
• Queen of Hearts: Shakshi Biswakarma
• Best Ramp Walk: Thadoi Yunman
The successful hosting of Miss Northeast 2026 in Kohima highlighted the region’s cultural diversity, talent and growing prominence in national and international pageantry.
