Atongjungla Walling crowned Miss Mokokchung 2026

Atongjungla Walling, centre, poses with first runner-up Chubaienla Pongen and second runner-up Reshma Sahani after being crowned Miss Mokokchung 2026 at Town Hall, Mokokchung, on August 14. (Morung Photo)

Atongjungla Walling was crowned Miss Mokokchung 2026 at the grand finale held at Town Hall, Mokokchung, on Friday evening. Chubaienla Pongen was declared first runner-up, while Reshma Sahani was named second runner-up.

The pageant was organised by Forerunners Mokokchung and co-powered by the Beauty and Aesthetic Society of Nagaland (BASN). Held for the second consecutive year under the theme, “Bloom Beyond Boundaries,” the event brought together 11 contestants aged between 18 and 22.

18 year old, Walling, a Bachelor of Arts student majoring in English, aspires to become a cabin crew member. She hopes to combine her interest in serving people with her ambition to explore the world, while encouraging others to pursue their goals with confidence.

As the titleholder, Walling will receive direct entry to this year’s Miss Nagaland competition. The first and second runners-up will be eligible to audition for the state pageant.

First runner-up Chubaienla Pongen is a 20-year-old Bachelor of Arts student majoring in English. Her interests include gardening, sketching and cooking, and she aspires to become a teacher. She hopes to work with young people by promoting knowledge, confidence and self-belief.

Second runner-up Reshma Sahani, 19, is a Mass Communication and Journalism student. She plans to pursue a career in the media industry and has expressed an interest in storytelling, culture and opportunities for young women.

The other contestants were Aying Y Konyak, Imkongtula, Likhum S Sangtam, Limasungla Imsong, Lily Rai, Naomi Z Tsanglao, Sungjemtila and Yangersenla Pongen.

Individual titles were also awarded during the finale. Limasungla Imsong won Queen of Hearts, the People’s Choice Award. Lily Rai received both Miss Beautiful Smile and Miss Beautiful Skin. Likhum S Sangtam was named Miss Congeniality, while Yangersenla Pongen won Miss Perfect 10. Aying Y Konyak received Miss Runway, Walling was named Miss Photogenic, and Sahani won Miss Talented.

The contestants competed in three main segments: Traditional and Introduction, Dance Routine, and Evening Gown. Show director Neitho Khamo said the pageant aimed to provide young women with exposure in communication, presentation and public engagement, while creating a platform for them to address social issues and take up community-oriented initiatives.

Khamo, who is associated with Talent Foresight and Novaturient Managements, said the pageant industry in Nagaland was growing despite continuing misconceptions. He said pageants could help participants build confidence and develop skills relevant to sectors such as aviation, beauty, fashion and event management.

Dr Nochetla Tzudir, District Agriculture Officer, Mokokchung, attended the finale as chief guest, while Sashila Ozukum, founder and proprietor of Hope Academy, was the guest of honour.

Mele Pucho, president of the Northeast Beauty Pageant Organization and the BASN–Miss Nagaland Organization, served as chief judge. The judging panel included Roselinda Longchar, Shakshi Biswakarma and Jentiren Jamir. Sangyu Pongen served as chief tabulator.

The programme was hosted by Arenla Lemtur, proprietor of Soul House Academy, while Imnuksungla Jamir was the announcer.

The event featured performances by Sariwar Band, Ningdangri and Friends, Abdon Mech, Shau Evans, Elizabeth Khing, Tiakumla, Maongkar and Toshiwapang Imsong. Sariwar Band made its live debut by opening the show, while Abdon Mech performed in Mokokchung for the first time.Shillong-based designer HM Hmingmawii was the evening-gown designer, while Manen Jamir of Manen Design handled the cocktail round. Sangthy LKR and Anung Imchen were the official makeup artists, and Khruku Ltu was the official photographer. Atongjungla Walling crowned Miss Mokokchung 2026 | MorungExpress | morungexpress.com

Read More........→August 17, 2026

How much do friends influence teens’ mental health? What a new study can (and can’t) tell us

Samantha Peralta/Unsplash 

Scarlett Smout, University of Sydney; Louise Birrell, University of Sydney, and Tim Slade, University of Sydney

During adolescence, young people become especially sensitive to peer influence – more so than any other time in life.

So, how does this affect their mental health?

A new study from Finland, released today, analysed data from more than 600,000 young people born between 1985 and 2000 (meaning both millennials and early Gen Zs).

It found that people whose peers had been diagnosed with a mental health condition – such as anxiety or depression – were more likely to develop a mental health condition themselves.

The researchers say these findings support the idea of “social transmission” of mental health conditions. But we need to be careful: this doesn’t mean these conditions are “contagious” in the same way as an infectious disease.

Many other factors, including genetic predisposition, also play a role in teen mental health. The data also can’t tell us if the “peers” are actually friends. Let’s take a look.

Mental health conditions on the rise

Around the world, depression and anxiety are increasing among young people. In Australia, recent data shows rates of anxiety in young people have increased from 13% to 28% over the past 15 years, while suicide attempts have doubled.

Despite greater awareness and expanded mental health services, young people are experiencing more severe and complex mental health challenges than ever before.

We know both friends and family play an important role in mental health. Family factors – including genetics – and environmental influences – such as peer relationships – each uniquely shape the development of mental health conditions.

What the study did and what it found

The new Finnish study explored the relationship between young people’s mental health and that of their peers. It aimed to find out whether having a peer with a diagnosed mental health condition, or a peer with a family history of one, increases your own likelihood of a diagnosis.

The researchers did this by analysing nationwide data in Finland, including health records and school enrolments.

The study made some interesting key findings:

1. if you had a peer with a diagnosed mental health condition or a peer with diagnoses in their family – for example, anxiety – you were more likely to be diagnosed with this same condition

2. the effect was stronger among peers who attended the same school, rather than lived in the same area – particularly in later adolescence.

The authors conclude that the findings support the idea of “transmission” of mental health risk in adolescence.

But there are some important caveats

It’s important to note that terms like “transmission” or “contagion” are not used in the same way as for infectious diseases. You cannot “catch” a mental health condition.

Instead, these terms describe how emotions, behaviours and social norms can spread between peers over time and influence mental health. For example, if there is increased awareness of mental health and reduced stigma within a group of peers, people in that group may be more comfortable seeking help (although the study didn’t test this).

Importantly, peer relationships and genetic risk are part of a complex mix of factors that shape adolescent mental health.

Because this study defined peers by school year or location, findings likely reflect shared school and community influences. In other words, these “peers” were likely exposed to similar environmental conditions, ranging from school cultures and educational approaches to neighbourhood features such as green space.

What the study couldn’t measure

The size of this study is a key strength. However, because this is achieved by using “register data” such as health records, there are some constraints:

• the data can’t tell you if people actually knew each other or were friends. So the study defined “peer networks” according to school (for example, those in the same grade and born in the same year) or where they lived (for example, people in the same postcode born in the same year)

• “genetic risk” was inferred from family diagnoses, rather than DNA, and there may be various reasons someone with a mental health condition doesn’t get a diagnosis

• the study couldn’t account for all the factors known to increase or lower someone’s risk of having a mental health condition. For example, it included someone’s sex, age and their parents’ income and education level. But it didn’t consider other factors known to play a role in adolescent mental health, such as their gender identity, ethnicity and what their school is like, as well as lifestyle behaviours, such as whether they smoke, drink alcohol or get regular exercise

• the study also found that if someone’s peer had a family history of a mental health condition, such as a substance use disorder, they had a higher chance of receiving the same diagnosis. But because the data only looks at diagnosis, it can’t capture other factors which might better explain the link – such as shared factors in families’ social environments.

Where to next?

This study shows both peers and their family risk are linked to adolescent mental health, but it cannot explain how these effects occur.

To understand how mental health conditions “spread” within peer networks, we still need research that disentangles the effects of peer selection (choosing similar friends) from peer influence (how friends shape each other).

But the importance of school environments is clear. School-based mental health programs which harness the influential role of peers are key. In Australia, a program called Mind your Mate, has already shown promise in lowering depression risk in teens through education about mental health and how to support peers.

Together, these findings point beyond individuals to the wider environments young people are part of. Ultimately, improving adolescent mental health means investing in the people and places around them, such as the schools and communities where peer relationships take shape.

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Thank you to Professor Cath Chapman for her role in developing this article.

If this article has raised issues for you, or if you’re concerned about someone you know, call Lifeline on 13 11 14. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people can also call 13YARN on 13 92 76.

Scarlett Smout, Research Fellow, The Matilda Centre for Research in Mental Health and Substance Use, University of Sydney; Louise Birrell, Researcher, The Matilda Centre for Research in Mental Health and Substance Use, University of Sydney, and Tim Slade, Professor, The Matilda Centre for Research in Mental Health and Substance Use, University of Sydney

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.

Read More........→August 05, 2026