Back in Nepal, Rupa grew up in a strict household. Her dad was in the military, and so were generations before him. So naturally, she and her sister got enrolled in one of the most prestigious military schools in the country. Over 3,000 students applied, but only 90 got in—60 boys and 30 girls. Rupa was one of the 30.
Sounds impressive, right? Except, she hated it.
“I never got along with anyone,” she says with a laugh. “At school, I was a misfit. At home, I was a misfit. I was fighting with everyone—students, seniors, even teachers sometimes. If I didn’t agree with you, I’d fight you to death.”
She wasn’t exaggerating. In 10th grade, she got into such a big fight that it basically killed her chance to continue there for high school.
But Rupa’s story isn’t about getting kicked down—it’s about bouncing back harder.
Enter: Fair & Lovely (Wait, What?)
While figuring out her next steps, Rupa stumbled on a radio ad for a modeling competition sponsored by Fair & Lovely. Without telling her strict dad (who probably would’ve lost it), she secretly applied.
She walked alone to a photo studio, paid for her own pictures, and dropped them off at the ad agency.
The result? Out of 500 girls, she was the only one selected for a national commercial—shot by Bollywood filmmakers no less. At 16, she earned her first paycheck: 25,000 Indian rupees. Enough to pay for her entire education.
“That was the moment I realized I could create my own opportunities.”
From TV Host to American Dreamer
The modeling gig led to volunteering at a child welfare NGO and eventually scoring a job at Kantipur TV. At just 17, Rupa became the youngest person on staff at Nepal’s largest TV network. She was hosting shows, doing news reports, and working full-time while finishing high school.
But then came the bigger dream—moving to the US.
With no family support and very little money, Rupa applied to colleges in America with the help of a friend. Against all odds, she got her visa. In 2004, she boarded a plane to Los Angeles.
“I hadn’t even been to Pokhara before,” she jokes. “And suddenly I was flying to LA—alone, no friends, no family.”
The Takeaway
Rupa’s story proves you don’t need a perfect plan or a smooth ride to reach big goals. Being a misfit didn’t hold her back—it gave her grit.
Her advice for anyone figuring out their own path?
“Be resilient. Be rebellious. Be relentless.”
Because sometimes the kid who fights with everyone in military school grows up to lead global initiatives at MIT.