Miss India or Femina Miss India is a national beauty pageant in India that annually selects representatives to compete in Miss Universe and Miss World.  Since 2013, Femina also organizes Miss Diva separately which sends representatives to Miss Universe. It is a big day for India. Punjab-based 21 year old Harnaaz Sandhu represented the country at the 70th Miss Universe 2021. She has won the title. Miss Universe 2021 was held in Eilat, Israel and was live-streamed globally. Harnaaz won the Miss Universe crown 21 years after Lara Dutta won the title in 2000. Andrea Meza, former Miss Universe 2020 from Mexico, crowned Harnaaz at the event.  The first and the second runners-up were Paraguay and South Africa respectively.As a part of the Top 3 round, all the contestants had to answer the same question. This is what they were asked, "What advice would you give to young women watching on how to deal with the pressures they face today?"

Harnaaz said, "Well, I think the biggest pressure the youth of today is facing is to believe in themselves. To know that you are unique and that's what makes you beautiful, stop comparing yourself with others, and let's talk about more important things that's happening worldwide. I think this is what you need to understand. Come out, speak for yourself, because you are the leader of your life. You are the voice of your own life. I believe in myself and that's why I'm standing here today. Thank you." Before Harnaaz, only two Indians have won the Miss Universe crown - actors Sushmita Sen in 1994 and Lara Dutta in 2000. The 21-year-old beauty queen is currently pursuing her Masters degree in Public Administration.Harnaaz Sandhu started her beauty pageant journey when she was just 17. She has previously been crowned Miss Diva 2021, Femina Miss India Punjab 2019. The 21-year-old Chandigarh-based model has also worked in Punjabi films such as Yaara Diyan Poo Baran and Bai Ji Kuttange.

Tags

• India
• wins
• Miss
• Universe
• 2021
• Israel
• beauty

Advertisement