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Posted on April 30th, 2022
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Miss Universe is India's Harnaaz Sandhu, 70th winner
Harnaaz Sandhu of India was crowned the 70th Miss Universe on Sunday, topping a field of some 80 contestants in a pageant that was touched by politics and the pandemic.
The previously reigning Miss Universe, Andrea Meza of Mexico, crowned her successor, a Bollywood actress, in the Israeli Red Sea resort town of Eilat. The pageant was held in the middle of the night, wrapping up at 5 a.m. local time (10 p.m. EST) to accommodate the primetime schedule in the U.S.
Sandhu said she was feeling "overwhelmed because it’s been 21 years since India got Miss Universe crown and it’s happening right now."
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 Philippines' Beatrice Luigi Gomez wore an asymmetrical cut dress with one sleeve, highlighting a new tattoo she said "celebrates her womanhood."
But the contest also drew attention in recent weeks for other reasons.
A grassroots Palestinian-led boycott had urged contestants to skip the event to protest Israel’s treatment of the Palestinians.
In the end, only Malaysia, a predominantly Muslim country with close ties to the Palestinians, did not send a representative, citing the global COVID-19 situation. The South African government, which also strongly supports the Palestinian cause, withdrew support for the country’s representative over her participation.
In an interview last month, Meza urged contestants to leave politics out of the pageant, saying the gathering was meant to bring together women from different backgrounds. "When you are in there you forget about politics, about your religion," she told The Associated Press at the time.
Sara Salansky, an official with the Israeli Tourism Ministry, said the country was selected to host the contest earlier this year because of Israel’s successful coronavirus vaccination program.
The contest suffered a last-minute hiccup with the arrival of the omicron variant, which forced Israel to close its borders to foreign tourists late last month.
Most of the Miss Universe contestants were already in the country before the new regulations came into effect. But those who came afterward were given special permission to enter, albeit with a mandatory 72-hour quarantine period.
Throughout the run-up to Sunday’s contest, all contestants were tested for the coronavirus every 48 hours and required to obey strict mask requirements.
Amid all the safeguards, France’s contestant, Clemence Botino, tested positive for COVID-19 shortly after arriving in Israel. After 10 days in quarantine, she was declared virus free last week and allowed to rejoin the competition.
Last year’s pageant was delayed due to the pandemic before Meza was crowned in May for her abbreviated tenure.
Sunday’s contest was hosted by U.S. TV personality Steve Harvey. Organizers said the pageant was expected to reach an estimated 600 million viewers via the FOX network in 172 countries.
India's Harnaaz Sandhu crowned Miss Universe 2021
Nadia Ferreira of Paraguay and Lalela Mswane of South Africa were the first and second runners-up.
Miss India Harnaaz Sandhu wins Miss Universe, Miss USA makes top 10
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Harnaaz Sandhu Biography
Who is Miss Universe winner Harnaaz Sandhu?
ON December 12, 2021, Harnaaz Sandhu took home the crown and title at the Miss Universe 2021 event.
Born: 3 March 2000 (age 21 years), Chandigarh
Education: Shivalik Public School, Post Graduate Government College for Girls
Her win marks the third time that a contestant from India has won the Miss Universe title and is the first winner from that country since 2000.
Harnaaz Sandhu was crowned Miss Universe 2021Credit: EPA Who is Miss Universe winner Harnaaz Sandhu?
Born March 3, 2000, Sandhu, 21, is known as an Indian model and beauty pageant titleholder who was born in Chandigarh, India.
Over the years, she has won multiple titles including Miss Chandigarh in 2017, Miss Max Emerging Star India in 2018, Femina Miss India Punjab in 2019, and Miss Diva Universe in 2021.
Outside of competing, Sandhu reportedly enjoys yoga, dancing, cooking, horseback riding, playing chess, and swimming while she works on starting a career in acting, according to her Miss Universe bio.
What has Harnaaz Sandhu said about Priyanka Chopra?
Priyanka Chopra Jonas, 39, is known professionally as an Indian actress, model, film producer, and singer.
Following Sandhu's Miss Diva 2021 win, she discussed her inspirations stating that Chopra is one of the biggest.
"I love Priyanka Chopra. So whatever lessons I can learn from her is nevertheless. So I will always choose Priyanka," Sandhu said, according to the Times of India.
Chopra is also a former beauty pageant queen and won the Miss World 2000 pageant.
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"She has created her own brand and represented India, not only in beauty pageants but also through her acting and singing talent," Sandhu reportedly continued.
"She has made India proud and I am hoping to follow her footsteps and bring glory back the way she did."
Following Sandhu's Miss Universe win, she got a shoutout from Chopra, who took to Twitter to congratulate her.
"Congratulations @HarnazzSandhu03 ... bringing the crown home after 21 years!" she wrote.
Prior to Sandhu's Miss Universe win, only two other women from India had won the title including Sushmita Sen in 1994 and Lara Dutta in 2000.
Harnaaz Sandhu is an Indian model : Is Harnaaz Sandhu in a relationship?
With over 1.2million followers on Instagram, Sandhu often updates fans on her life.
Despite being in the public eye, at this time it remains unclear if she is in a relationship.
Miss India Harnaaz Sandhu is crowned the 70th Miss Universe
Miss Universe 2021: Meet Harnaaz Sandhu from India who brought home the title after 21 years
The coveted Miss Universe title has finally returned home — after 21 years — as Chandigarh-born Harnaaz Sandhu was declared the winner of the 70th edition of the pageant on Sunday night in Eliat, Israel.
Actor Lara Dutta had last won the title in 2000.
In second place was Miss Paraguay Nadia Ferreira, followed by Miss South Africa Lalela Mswane.
The model, who’s Instagram bio reads, "Shine like the whole Universe is yours", had previously won ‘Miss Diva Universe 2021’ title that paved her way to the Miss Universe 2021 pageant.
Harnaaz, who started modelling at a young age, gradually made her way to beauty pageants and won her first pageant — Miss Chandigarh 2017.
As per her Miss Universe delegate bio, Harnaaz, a Punjabi, draws inspiration from her mother, who "broke generations of patriarchy to become a successful gynecologist and led her family".
Harnaaz Sandhu is extremely close to her family (Harnaaz Sandhu/Instagram Stories)
