Co-ordinated By Malika Joshi
ANJANA RANA MAGAR
Anjana Rana Magar is a professional Nepali footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for the Nepal women’s national football team and the Armed Police Force (APF) Club. Making her national team debut as a teenager, she quickly gained recognition for her quick reflexes, composure under pressure, and leadership on the field. Over the years, she has become one of Nepal’s key goalkeepers, representing the country in multiple international competitions. Beyond football, Anjana also engages in youth inspiration and advocacy initiatives, serving as a role model and brand ambassador who motivates young athletes and students to pursue their ambitions.
Reflecting on her journey, Anjana hopes her story encourages young girls who may feel afraid to step into sports. Starting from the grassroots level, she faced many challenges but relied on resilience, hard work, dedication, and determination to achieve her goals. She believes it is natural to feel fear, but what truly matters is perseverance and a clear vision. Through her platform, she aims to inspire younger generations to keep believing in their dreams and, in turn, motivate others in the future.
Anjana Rana Magar
“Whether it’s in sports or any other part of life, I want young women to look at my journey and realize they can fulfill their own dreams too. I want my life to be proof that where you start doesn’t limit where you can go.”
Growing up in Rautahat, a community known for producing women footballers, Anjana was surrounded by strong support from her family, school, and community. Her mother gifted her first pair of football shoes, and both her school and community ensured she could balance education and football. This environment played a vital role in shaping her career and confidence.
Despite the demanding nature of training and competition, Anjana stays motivated by remembering the purpose behind her work. Her family serves as her emotional anchor, helping her maintain mental balance through victories and setbacks.
Over time, she has also witnessed a positive shift in society’s perception of female athletes. What was once met with skepticism has now turned into admiration and encouragement, especially from families who bring their daughters to football fields. For Anjana, football has taught resilience, self-belief, and the strength to rise above criticism while continuing to pursue her dreams and inspire others.
ANNA KUMARI DHAKAL
Anna Kumari Dhakal’s artistic journey began in the stillness of lockdown, a moment of quiet confrontation that reshaped her life’s direction. A self-taught painter with an MBA background, Anna chose to follow an inner pull toward creativity, discovering painting not just a medium of expression but a deeper sense of identity and purpose. What began as a personal necessity soon evolved into a powerful artistic voice that translates emotion, memory, and nature into delicate visual poetry.
Anna’s work is defined by its gentle brushstrokes, soft palettes, and atmospheric landscapes, misty hills, blooming flowers, and tranquil scenes that evoke calm and introspection.
For her, nature, memory, and emotional landscapes are intertwined reflections of the same inner terrain. Rather than recreating what she sees, she paints the feeling that remains after a moment has passed, the quiet solitude of a mountain, the tenderness of a flower, or the lingering emotion tied to a place. Through color, texture, and subtle form, Anna transforms these impressions into spaces where viewers can reconnect with their own memories and emotions.
Being self-taught came with its share of uncertainty. Without formal training or institutional validation, Anna faced doubts about legitimacy and belonging within the art world. Yet that freedom also became her greatest teacher. By experimenting, observing, and trusting her instincts, she developed a practice rooted in sincerity rather than rules. In Nepal, where conventional success often defines worth, choosing an intuitive artistic path required courage and persistence.
In the digital age, Anna acknowledges that social media has expanded visibility for artists while also complicating the relationship between art and validation. For her, authenticity requires distance from the noise, protecting the quiet, solitary space where creativity truly begins.
As part of a new generation of Nepali creatives, Anna challenges misconceptions about young women artists being overly emotional or less serious. Instead, she embraces sensitivity as strength. Through her art, she invites viewers to slow down, reconnect with themselves, and find meaning in the quiet beauty of the natural and emotional world.
Anna Kumari Dhakal
“Beyond the aesthetic, I hope my work reminds people to slow down and feel. My paintings are quiet invitations to return to ourselves. They are not meant to impress.”
RAZEE MAHARJAN
Razee Maharjan, digital creator who is redefining storytelling. A vibrant content creator and artist, Razee has built a growing online community through relatable reels, playful food experiments, and snippets of everyday life that resonate strongly with Gen Z audiences. With natural humor and effortless storytelling, she transforms ordinary moments whether cooking in the kitchen or sharing daily reflections into engaging content that feels both personal and refreshingly authentic.
Her journey into content creation was not a calculated plan but a natural extension of who she already was. A lifelong lover of reading and storytelling, Razee had always been the friend who animatedly narrated everyday experiences to those around her. Encouraged by friends and family who enjoyed the videos she would share privately, she eventually decided to post them publicly. What began as simple sharing soon evolved into a creative platform where she could express emotions, stories, and lived experiences with a wider audience. For Razee, content creation became another artistic canvas, one where everyday life itself becomes the narrative.
RAZEE MAHARJAN
“We’re often told to ‘follow our dreams,’ but I believe it’s equally important to find the space where your passion becomes sustainable. I’ve personally experienced how financial independence directly impacts creative freedom.”
Authenticity sits at the core of her work. Having studied art, she believes creative expression must reflect the life one is genuinely living. While social media often rewards trends, perfection, and virality, Razee consciously prioritizes connection over numbers. She acknowledges that while viral moments may fade quickly, honest storytelling builds something far more meaningful and lasting.
As a Gen Z Nepali woman, Razee sees her generation as one that honors cultural roots while courageously redefining paths forward. Through her platform, she hopes to create a space that feels real, encouraging, and safe—especially for young girls who may be searching for confidence in their own voices.
One of the most touching milestones in her journey came when a follower sent her fan art. As someone who had spent years creating art about others, becoming the subject of someone else’s creativity felt deeply moving. It was a reminder of the quiet but powerful connections that art and storytelling can create between strangers in the digital world.
SHREEYA GIRI
SHREEYA GIRI
“You do not have to carry that weight by yourself. Break the cycle. There is almost always another woman in that same room, or that same industry, who is waiting to be your ally.”
Shreeya Giri is a trailblazing Nepali entrepreneur and mental health advocate, recognized for her work at the intersection of digital solutions and emotional well-being. As the founder of Happy Minds, a multi-channel platform offering counseling and workshops to Nepalis worldwide, she has been instrumental in transforming the conversation around mental health in Nepal. Her efforts earned her a spot on Forbes 30 Under 30 Asia in 2024 under the “Social Impact” category, amplifying her voice both nationally and internationally.
Shreeya’s journey began with a stark realization from her years in the Nepali education system: while students mastered the complexities of the external world, they were left unequipped to navigate their own internal landscapes. This awareness became the driving force behind Happy Minds. By leveraging relatability, digital engagement, and culturally sensitive approaches, Shreeya’s generation is dismantling long-standing stigmas, creating spaces where struggles can be acknowledged without shame, and promoting mental wellness as an integral part of life.
Her work spans both personal and professional spheres. Shreeya has successfully integrated mental health initiatives into corporate giants like Unilever, Nabil Bank, and Jawalakhel Group of Industries, transforming workplaces from spaces of silence around emotional well-being to cultures where psychological safety is valued. She emphasizes that mental health is not just a remedy for crisis, but an investment in daily productivity, connection, and growth.
As a leader, Shreeya draws strength from her own vulnerability, demonstrating that openness fosters belonging and empowers others to seek help. She challenges Nepali women to redefine strength, not as enduring hardship in isolation, but as knowing when to ask for support and building networks of solidarity. Her bold message resonates clearly: independence does not mean going it alone; seeking help is an act of resilience and courage. Through her work, Shreeya continues to inspire a generation of Nepalis, especially young women, to embrace mental health as both a right and a source of empowerment.
