Harnaaz Sandhu: 5 Things To Know About Miss Universe 2021 Winner From India Who’s Handing Off The Crown

• Harnaaz Sandhu was the 3rd contestant from India to ever beryllium crowned Miss Universe.
• Harnaaz Sandhu has been precise unfastened astir her struggles with intelligence health.
• Harnaax Sandhu is an histrion and is inspired by Priyanka Chopra.

Harnaaz Sandhu, 21, was crowned Miss Universe during the pageant connected Dec. 12. The 2020 titleholder from Mexico, Andrea Meza, was on-hand to crown her successor astatine the event, which was hosted by Steve Harvey. The archetypal runner-up was Nadia Ferreira, from Paraguay, with South Africa’s Lalela Mswane being named 3rd runner-up. However, successful the end, it was Harnaaz who accepted the crown, looking stunning successful a sparkling metallic formal arsenic she did so. And now, Harnaaz volition manus implicit the Miss Universe crown to the newest victor connected Jan. 14, 2023.

Harnaaz’s triumph was the 3rd clip that a contestant from India had been named Miss Universe. In 2000, the victor was India’s Lara Dutta, and earlier that, successful 1994, Sushmita Sen won the honor. Only the United States, Venezuela, Puerto Rico and the Philippines person crowned much winners implicit the years. After Harnaaz’s large nighttime astatine Miss Universe, larn much astir her below:

Harnaaz Sandhu aft winning Miss Universe. (ATEF SAFADI/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock)

1. How Long Has Harnaaz Been Competing In Pageants?

Harnaaz was a teen erstwhile she began partaking successful quality pageants. She was named Miss Chandigarh successful 2017, arsenic good arsenic Miss Max Emerging Star India successful 2018. The pursuing year, she won the rubric of Femina Miss India Punjab, and competed successful the Top 12 astatine Femina Miss India. In 2021, she competed successful the country’s Miss Diva pageant, wherever she was crowned the victor and earned the close to correspond India astatine the Miss Universe pageant that aforesaid year.

2. Harnaaz Has Struggled With Mental Health

During her opening connection astatine the Miss Diva competition, Harnaaz opened up astir however her intelligence wellness has been affected implicit the years. “From a young miss with fragile intelligence wellness who faced bullying and assemblage shaming, to a pistillate who emerged similar a phoenix, realizing her existent potential, from an idiosyncratic who erstwhile doubted her ain beingness to a pistillate who is aspiring to animate the youth,” she said. “Today, I basal proudly successful beforehand of the Universe arsenic a courageous, vivacious and compassionate pistillate who is each acceptable to pb a beingness with intent and to permission down a singular legacy.”

3. Harnaaz Is An Actress

Aside from conscionable competing successful pageants, Harnaaz besides has a vocation arsenic an actress. She has 2 pieces of enactment slated for merchandise successful 2022, according to her Miss Universe bio. In her spare time, Harnaaz enjoys yoga, dancing, cooking, horseback riding, playing chess and swimming.

Harnaaz Sandhu astatine the Miss Universe 2021 pageant. (ATEF SAFADI/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock)

4. Harnaaz Was Influenced By Priyanka Chopra 

It’s nary concealed that Priyanka Chopra is an inspiration to galore Indian women, including Harnaaz. After victor Miss Diva, Harnaaz opened up astir however Priyanka is an inspiration to her. “She has created her ain marque and represented India, not lone successful quality pageants but besides done her acting and singing talent,” Harnaaz gushed. “She has made India arrogant and I americium hoping to travel her footsteps and bring glory backmost the mode she did.” Priyanka was the victor of Miss World successful 2000, and took to Instagram to congratulate Harnaaz connected her triumph aft the Miss Universe pageant, arsenic well.

5. Harnaaz Values Women’s Empowerment

After being raised by a beardown mother, who worked arsenic a palmy gynecologist, Harnaaz became and advocator for women’s empowerment. As a child, she worked with her parent astatine wellness camps, wherever women’s wellness and menstrual hygiene were addressed. “Deeply conscious of the privilege her mother’s struggles person talented her, Harnaaz contiguous is simply a beardown advocator for women’s empowerment, peculiarly their law rights to education, careers and their state of choice,” her bio reveals.

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