In the heart of South Asia, Nepal’s youth are making headlines with a fierce wave of Gen Z protests that’s shaking the foundations of the country’s political landscape. As India grapples with US tariffs and the buzz around the IND vs PAK Asia Cup 2025 match, our neighbor to the north is witnessing a youth-led revolution that’s as raw as it is relentless. Sparked by a controversial social media ban from the government, these Nepal Gen Z protests have escalated into violent, media-savvy demonstrations, ultimately toppling the entire KP Sharma Oli-led administration. But amid the chaos, a sharp spotlight has fallen on the “nepo kids”—the children of Nepal’s powerful political elites—whose extravagant lifestyles have become the ultimate symbol of inequality.
For years, Nepal’s young people have watched as corruption eroded their future: soaring unemployment, crushing poverty, and a widening gap between the haves and have-nots. The social media ban was the breaking point, igniting a firestorm of outrage. Now, as protesters celebrate ousting the old guard, the viral nepo kids Nepal trend has taken social media by storm. Hashtags like #PoliticiansNepoBabyNepal and #NepoBabies are exploding, with viral videos and photos exposing the lavish vacations, designer hauls, and luxury homes of these privileged offspring. While average Nepalis struggle to make ends meet, these nepo kids flaunt a world of opulence that feels worlds away. Let’s dive into the stories of five prominent figures at the center of this viral nepo kids trend in Nepal.
1. Shrinkhala Khatiwada: From Miss Nepal Crown to Protest Backlash
Shrinkhala Khatiwada first captured the nation’s heart as Miss Nepal, but today, she’s a poster child for the Nepal nepo kids controversy. As the daughter of Birodh Khatiwada, Nepal’s former health minister, and Munu Sigdel Khatiwada, a current member of the Bagmati Province state parliament, her family ties run deep into the corridors of power.
Her Instagram is a glossy showcase of privilege: ski trips in Switzerland, city escapes to the United States, and high-society jaunts in London. But the Gen Z protests Nepal have turned that glamour against her. Protesters torched her family’s home in a blaze of fury, and in the aftermath, Shrinkhala watched her follower count plummet by over 100,000. It’s a stark reminder of how the nepo kid trend has weaponized social media against the elite.
2. Shivana Shrestha: The Singer Who Went Silent Amid the Storm
Shivana Shrestha isn’t just any rising star in Nepal’s music scene—she’s woven into the fabric of its political royalty as the daughter-in-law of former Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba. Her feeds were once filled with envy-inducing glimpses: racks of high-end fashion and tours of sprawling, luxurious estates that scream untouchable wealth.
But as the Nepal protests nepo kids backlash intensified, Shivana hit pause. After being called out for her extravagant displays during a time of national hardship, she disabled her Instagram account entirely. Her whereabouts remain a mystery, leaving fans and critics alike wondering if this Gen Z outrage Nepal has finally muted one of its most visible voices.
3. Jaiveer Singh Deuba: Heir to a Political Dynasty’s Lavish Legacy
If the Deuba name rings bells in Nepal, it’s no surprise—Jaiveer Singh Deuba carries it like a crown. Son of five-time former Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba and Dr. Arzu Deuba, Nepal’s most recent foreign minister, Jaiveer is embedded in the Nepali Congress party’s inner circle. His father currently leads as president of the Central Working Committee, making this family’s influence undeniable.
Married to fellow nepo kid and singer Shivana Shrestha, Jaiveer’s social media is a couple’s reel of excess: intimate dinners in exotic locales, designer outfits, and properties that could house entire neighborhoods. These snapshots have fueled the fire of the viral nepo kids Nepal movement, highlighting how political pedigrees pave the way for lives untouched by the poverty plaguing everyday Nepalis.
4. Smita Dahal: Granddaughter of a Revolutionary Leader, Under Fire for Luxury Flexes
Smita Dahal blends melody with might in Nepal’s entertainment world, but her lineage steals the show. As the granddaughter of Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’—the iconic former Prime Minister and Communist Party of Nepal leader—Smita embodies the nepo babies Nepal archetype that’s igniting public fury.
Her social posts, boasting handbags worth lakhs of rupees, landed her squarely in the crosshairs of the Gen Z protests. At a time when jobless youth flood the streets, such flaunts feel like salt in the wound. Last year, she tied the knot with Suyojya Shrestha in a star-studded affair attended by legends like Haribansh Acharya, Kiran KC, Shiva Shrestha, Jitu Nepal, and Kedar Ghimire. Yet, amid the Nepal social media ban protests, her glamour has morphed from aspirational to infuriating.
5. Saugat Thapa: The Young Business Prodigy from a Ministerial Clan
Saugat Thapa’s story is one of inherited ambition meeting outright privilege. Born into a powerhouse political family, he’s the son of Bindu Kumar Thapa, who served as Gandaki Province’s minister of law, communication, and provincial affairs. Today, Saugat helms the Ansuvara Group in Pokhara as managing director, a role that screams nepotism in the eyes of critics.
At just a young age, he snagged a seat as the youngest member of the Pokhara Chamber of Commerce and Industry. His latest venture? Launching the swanky lakeside resort Bagaincha, a haven for the elite far removed from the streets where Gen Z-led protests rage. Viral photos of Saugat’s polished life have amplified the nepo kid Nepal discourse, underscoring the chasm between his boardroom deals and the unemployment lines snaking through Pokhara.
The Road Ahead: Has the Rage Faded, or Is It Just Beginning?
The Nepal Gen Z protests achieved their explosive goal—dismantling the KP Sharma Oli government and lifting the social media ban that lit the fuse. Thousands of young voices, many in their 20s, flooded Kathmandu’s streets, turning online memes into real-world reckoning. At least 19 lives were lost in the violence, but the movement’s media savvy has kept it alive on platforms worldwide.
Yet, as the dust settles, the viral nepo kids trend shows no signs of slowing. Social media buzzes with debates: Is toppling one leader enough, or do these politicians and their offspring deserve harsher accountability? Hashtags like #PoliticiansNepoBabyNepal and #NepoBabies dominate feeds, morphing frustration into a deep-seated disdain for systemic inequality. Corruption, elite privilege, and youth disenfranchisement aren’t going away overnight—this is Nepal’s Gen Z saying, “Enough is enough.”
FAQs (frequently asked questions)
1. What Are the Nepal Gen Z Protests About?
The Nepal Gen Z protests erupted in 2025 against corruption, unemployment, and a government-imposed social media ban. Fueled by frustration with political elites, young Nepalis took to the streets, ousting the KP Sharma Oli government. The protests highlighted inequality, targeting “nepo kids”—children of politicians flaunting lavish lifestyles. Hashtags like #PoliticiansNepoBabyNepal went viral, amplifying youth demands for accountability and reform.
2. Who Are the Nepo Kids in Nepal?
Nepo kids Nepal are children of political elites, like Shrinkhala Khatiwada and Jaiveer Singh Deuba, known for luxurious lifestyles amid widespread poverty. During the Gen Z protests, their social media posts showcasing foreign vacations and designer goods sparked outrage, making them symbols of systemic inequality. Protesters targeted their homes and accounts, fueling the viral nepo kids trend.
3. Why Was There a Social Media Ban in Nepal?
The Nepal social media ban in 2025 was a government move to curb dissent amid rising unrest over corruption and unemployment. It backfired, igniting the Nepal Gen Z protests as youth used platforms like X to organize and expose politicians’ “nepo kids.” The ban’s repeal became a key victory, but public anger persists, with hashtags like #NepoBabies trending.
4. What Triggered the 2025 Nepal Protests?
The Nepal protests 2025 were sparked by a social media ban, coupled with decades of corruption, unemployment, and elite privilege. Gen Z, frustrated by leaders’ inaction and their children’s lavish lifestyles (aka nepo kids Nepal), led violent demonstrations in Kathmandu, toppling the KP Sharma Oli government. The protests, costing 19 lives, demanded systemic change.
5. Who Is Shrinkhala Khatiwada in the Nepal Protests?
Shrinkhala Khatiwada, former Miss Nepal and daughter of ex-health minister Birodh Khatiwada, is a prominent nepo kid Nepal. Her Instagram posts flaunting trips to Switzerland and London drew ire during the Nepal Gen Z protests. Protesters set her family’s home ablaze, and she lost over 100,000 followers, reflecting public rage against elite privilege.
6. How Did Nepo Kids Become a Target in Nepal Protests?
Nepo kids Nepal, like Shivana Shrestha and Smita Dahal, became targets in the Gen Z protests for flaunting wealth (designer bags, luxury homes) while most Nepalis face poverty. Social media posts amplified this disparity, with hashtags like #NepoBabies fueling outrage. Protesters attacked their properties and accounts, demanding accountability from political families.
7. What Role Did Social Media Play in Nepal’s Gen Z Protests?
Social media was the backbone of the Nepal Gen Z protests. Despite the social media ban, platforms like X enabled youth to organize, share videos of nepo kids Nepal lifestyles, and spread hashtags like #PoliticiansNepoBabyNepal. This digital activism turned local unrest into a global conversation, pressuring the government to resign.
8. Why Did Nepal’s Gen Z Target Politicians’ Children?
Nepal’s Gen Z targeted nepo kids because their lavish lifestyles—think Jaiveer Singh Deuba’s exotic vacations or Smita Dahal’s pricey handbags—symbolized corruption and inequality. During the Nepal protests 2025, these displays clashed with widespread unemployment and poverty, making politicians’ children lightning rods for public anger.
9. What Was the Outcome of the Nepal Protests 2025?
The Nepal protests 2025 achieved a major win: the ousting of the KP Sharma Oli government and the lifting of the social media ban. However, with 19 deaths and ongoing anger at nepo kids Nepal, debates continue on whether more accountability is needed. Hashtags like #NepoBabies keep the movement alive.
10. Are Nepal’s Gen Z Protests Still Ongoing?
As of September 2025, the Nepal Gen Z protests have calmed after toppling the Oli government, but the fire hasn’t died out. Anger at corruption and nepo kids Nepal persists, with hashtags like #PoliticiansNepoBabyNepal trending on X. Youth continue demanding reforms to address unemployment and elite privilege.
