Miss Universe 2021: Indian Harnaaz Sandhu wins prestigious competition and brings crown home after 21 years

New Delhi: Model-actress Harnaaz Sandhu made history Monday when she was crowned Miss Universe 2021. The 21-year-old from Punjab won the title after beating female contestants from 80 countries. The last time India won the title was in 2000 when actress Lara Dutta was crowned Miss Universe.

The Miss Universe title has been won by the Indians, only twice, with actors Sushmita Sen and Lara Dutta claiming the crown in 1994 and 2000, respectively.

The 70th edition of the event was held in Eilat, Israel, where Harnaaz Sandhu, 21, won the coveted competition.

Harnaaz is a Chandigarh-based model pursuing her Masters’s in Public Administration. She was crowned by her predecessor Andrea Meza of Mexico, who won the competition in 2020. Paraguayan Nadia Ferreira, 22, and South African Lalela Mswane, 24, became the first and second finalists.

In the final round of questions and answers, Sandhu was asked what advice would she give young women on how to deal with the pressure they face today.

“The biggest pressure young people today face is to believe in yourself, to know that you are unique and that is what makes you beautiful. Stop comparing yourself to others and let’s talk about things. most important events happening in the world.

“This is what you need to understand. Come out, speak for yourselves because you are the leader of your life, you are your voice. I believed in myself and that is why I am standing here today. hui, ”she thundered applause.

Sandhu began her pageantry journey by winning Times Fresh Face in 2017, when she represented Chandigarh at the age of 17. She went on to win the LIVA Miss Diva Universe 2021 title.

Miss Universe has also worked in a few Punjabi films, including “Yaara Diyan Poo Baran” and “Bai Ji Kuttange”.

The Miss Universe 2021 ceremony was hosted by Steve Harvey and saw performances by American singer JoJo.

The selection committee included actor and Miss Universe India 2015 Urvashi Rautela, Adamari L Lopez, Adriana Lima, Cheslie Kryst, Iris Mittenaere, Lori Harvey, Marian Rivera, and Rena Sofer.

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