Indian beauty Harnaaz Sandhu is Miss Universe 2021
EILAT (Israel), December 13, 2021
Harnaaz Sandhu of India was crowned Miss Universe 2021 today (December 13) at the 70th Miss Universe beauty pageant in the Israeli port city of Eilat.
The pageant was held in the resort city of Eilat, with 80 women from around the world competing for the crown. Sunday night was the last day of the competition, with eliminations narrowing down the number of finalists until the last two remained.
The coveted Miss Universe title has finally returned home - after 21 years - screamed headlines in Indian media as the 130-billion strong nation celebrated Chandigarh-born beauty's win at the gala event.
Harnaaz, who started modelling at a young age, gradually made her way to beauty pageants and won her first pageant — Miss Chandigarh 2017 followed by ‘Miss Diva Universe 2021’ title that paved her way to the Miss Universe 2021 pageant.
Nadia Ferreira of Paraguay and Lalela Mswane of South Africa were the first and second runners-up, respectively, reported CNN.
An actor by profession, Harnaaz said she was inspired by actor and Miss World 2000 Priyanka Chopra and her body of work. She is now a strong advocate for women’s empowerment, particularly their constitutional rights to education, careers, and their freedom of choice.
"In her spare time, Harnaaz enjoys the company of friends, loves yoga, dancing, cooking, horse riding, and playing chess. She is a water baby and never misses a chance to jump into a pool to rejuvenate herself. She believes in the saying – “Great things happen to those who don’t stop believing, trying, learning, and being grateful,” reads her delegate bio.
In a speech on stage during the pageant, Sandhu urged young people to "know that you are unique and that's what makes you beautiful, stop comparing yourself to others.
"I believed in myself, and that's why I'm standing here today," she added, to loud applause from the audience.
After her win was announced, she celebrated with other contestants on stage, shouting to a camera, "Chak de Phatte India," a Punjabi exclamation similar in meaning to "Let's do this, India!"
Former Miss Universe Lara Dutta congratulated her on the win.
Congratulations @HarnaazSandhu03 !!!! Welcome to the club!!! We’ve waited 21 long years for this!!! You make us SO SO proud!!! A billion dreams come true!!! she tweeted.
This year's competition marks the second Covid-era Miss Universe pageant. Israel's borders were set to open to vaccinated tourists ahead of the main event this year, which would have allowed thousands of fans to attend.
But with the emergence of the new Omicron variant, the Israeli government shut its borders to foreigners two weeks before the competition, throwing travel plans and preparations into chaos. One contestant, Miss France, tested positive for the virus upon landing in Israel and had to quarantine -- getting out just in time for the preliminary competition on Friday.
