September 10, 2025 | 05:42 pm
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The trending hashtag #NepoKid is currently popular on social media amid protests by Gen Z in Nepal. Former Miss Nepal Shrinkhala Khatiwada has unexpectedly found herself at the center of it all. The 2018 beauty pageant queen, who is the daughter of former Health Minister Birodh Khatiwada, has been accused by internet users of benefiting from political nepotism.
As reported by the Nepalese media outlet The Free Press Journal, led mostly by Gen Z activists, the trend has gained momentum on social media platforms such as TikTok, Reddit, and Instagram. Young Nepalis are using these platforms to criticize the lavish lifestyles of politicians' children.
With slogans like "Our taxes, their luxury" and "We pay, you flex," activists argue that while ordinary Nepali citizens grapple with economic hardships, the children of political elites flaunt overseas trips, luxury cars, and designer clothes.
Shrinkhala, who was once praised for her grace and advocacy during Miss World 2018, has now become the target of this public anger. Her Instagram comment section has become a platform for public outrage, with frustrated users accusing her of being hypocritical and silent on pressing issues.
One user X (formerly on Twitter) also claimed that she has lost a significant number of followers on her social media platforms. In a tweet, he wrote, "Former Miss Nepal Shrinkhala Khatiwada has lost over 50,000 followers due to a recent backlash against the 'nepo kid' trend."
She is the daughter of politician Birodh Khatiwada, who served as the Nepal Health Minister during the COVID-19 crisis.
One user bluntly wrote, "Unfollow her."
Others commented, "I couldn’t leave a comment since I didn’t follow you. Just wanna say I am truly disappointed in you. I’ve known you to be a very beautiful lady during your Miss Nepal days. Since I don’t have anything good to say to you now, lemmi leave nothing else but a disappointment.."
Others were harsher, referencing her past advocacy work. "Unfollow very disappointing. What happened to all the big talks of advocating for children’s education, rights, wellbeing. All a big fat lie," wrote one user.
Another added, "I had been such a fan of you for many years, but your inability to address this issue is embarrassing—this is concerning."
Nepal Protests
Nepal has been rocked by unrest following anti-government protests, leading Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli to resign.
In the past two days, demonstrations led by Gen Z have intensified, resulting in at least 22 deaths and over 500 injuries in violent clashes around the Federal Parliament and throughout Kathmandu.
Protesters have also set fire to several government buildings, including the parliament house.
Editor's Choice: Protesters Burn Down Nepal's Parliament Building Despite PM Sharma Oli's Resignation
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