Tashi Choden Chombal biography: 13 things about Miss Universe Bhutan 2022

Tashi Choden Chombal is a Bhutanese model and beauty queen from Wangdue Phodrang, Bhutan. She is 5’8″ tall.

Chombal was born in Thimphu , Bhutan to a Tibetan father named Chombal and a Bhutanese mother named Kinley Wangmo. The father was a businessman from Kham, Tibet while the mother was a businesswoman from Domkha, Wangdue Phodrang.

Shortly after Tashi was born, she and her parents moved from Thimphu to Nagaland, India. While the family was in Nagaland, the father had to constantly travel for business.

After losing both parents, Tashi was raised by a maternal aunt, her maternal grandmother and her stepfather Dorji. Tashi attended Wangdue Lower Secondary School and Bajothang Higher Secondary School, which are both in Wangdue Phodrang, Ugyen Academy in Khuruthang, Bhutan and Utpal Academy in Paro, Bhutan.

Before becoming the first ever openly homosexual Miss Bhutan, Tashi was featured in Bhutanese films “Singye” and “Nyingtob“. A proud member of the LGBTQI community, she is a spokesperson and advocate for LGBTQI rights, gender equality and women’s empowerment.

Tashi is also known as Tashi Chombal Dorji. Here are 13 more things bout her:

1. In 2001, she and her mother moved to Wangdue Phodrang.
2. In 2002, her father died due to an illness. Years later, her mother married Dorji. Her mother gave birth to her half-sister in 2009 and to her half-brother in 2011.
3. In 2012, her mother died due to an illness.
4. In 2013, Bhutanese model Paljor Gyabak scouted her while she on a trip to Thimphu. She started modeling in his Project Bhutan shows.
5. She is Miss Indo Bhutan Fest 2016.
6. On August 19, 2017, she competed at Miss Citadel Pune 2017 in Pune, India. She was runner-up to Priya Singh aside from winning the Miss Photogenic award.
7. In January 2018, she had a photo shoot in Bangalore, India. On November 10, 2018, she represented Bhutan at Miss Asia 2018 and competed against 24 other candidates at the Gokulam Convention Center in Kaloor, India. She was unplaced but she won the Miss Congeniality award.
8. In January 2019, she was appointed Miss Supermodel Worldwide Bhutan 2019. On May 9, 2019, she represented Bhutan at Miss Supermodel Worldwide 2019 and competed against 26 other candidates at The Velvet in New Delhi, India. She finished in the Top 15 and won the Best Catwalk award. In June 2019, she visited Phuket, Thailand.
9. On February 17, 2021, adult homosexuality was formally decriminalized in Bhutan. On June 2, 2021, on the International Pride Day, she came out as lesbian to her family.
10. On June 4, 2022, she competed against 24 other candidates at Miss Bhutan 2022 in Thimphu, Bhutan and won the title.
11. On January 14, 2023, she represented Bhutan at Miss Universe 2022 and competed against 83 other candidates at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center in New Orleans, Louisiana, United States. She was unplaced.
12. On March 30, 2023, she took to Instagram to share photos of herself with her partner Nyima S. Dorji.
13. She was 25 years old when she and Miss Universe Philippines 2023 Michelle Dee were featured on June 20, 2023 in an episode of the Miss Universe series “Universe United”.