Miss India Harnaaz Sandhu on Sunday December 12, defeated 79 other contestants from various countries and territories to be crowned Miss Universe 2021.
Sandhu was crowned the new Miss Universe in Eilat, Israel, beat the first runner-up Miss Paraguay Nadia Ferreira and second runner-up Miss South Africa Lalela Mswane.
She was presented the crown by her successor, Miss Universe 2020 Andrea Meza, before taking her first walk as the new Miss Universe on stage.
The competition was a historic one, as it marked the first time that a delegate from the United Arab Emirates has ever competed and the first time in over four decades that Miss Universe Morocco has returned to the pageant.
Miss Universe 2021 was held seven months after Meza, 27, earned the 2020 crown this past May. Her win came about five months later than usual because the annual pageant went on a hiatus due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
The pageant included traditional displays of national costumes, swimwear and a series of interview questions to test contestants’ public speaking skills. The top 10 showed off intricately bedazzled full-length gowns in either gold, silver or bronze.
The competition was hosted by comedian Steve Harvey, who at one point in the night asked Sandhu, “I hear you do some pretty good animal impersonations, let’s hear your best one.”
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Harvey was later criticized online for singling her out with what many have suggested was an inappropriate question.
WHO IS HARNAAZ SANDHU?
A Chandigarh-based model, Harnaaz Sandhu has won several beauty pageants in the past. She has been crowned Miss Diva 2021 and Femina Miss India Punjab 2019. Harnaaz, in fact, was also placed in the Top 12 at Femina Miss India 2019.
Harnaaz Sandhu has also worked in Punjabi films such as Yaara Diyan Poo Baran and Bai Ji Kuttange. She is currently pursuing her Master’s degree in Public Administration.
Harnaaz Sandhu did her schooling in Chandigarh’s Shivalik Public School. She is currently pursuing her Masters from Post Graduate Government College for Girls, Chandigarh. Her mother, Ravinder Sandhu, is a doctor.
She is currently working as the SMO Senior Medical Officer at Sohana Hospital. Her father PS Sandhu is in the real estate business.
HARNAAZ SANDHU ON INSTAGRAM
Harnaaz Sandhu is on Instagram and has 269k followers. She often posts pictures from her photoshoots on the photo-sharing app.
