Harnaaz Sandhu crowned Miss Universe 2021, title comes back to India after 21 years

India's Harnaaz Sandhu has been crowned the Miss Universe 2021, which was being held in Eilat, Israel. Harnaaz Sandhu entered the finals and competed against the contestants of Paraguay and South Africa. Harnaaz has now been crowned the winner of the Miss Universe beauty pageant. The esteemed crown is coming back to India after 21 years, with Lara Dutta winning the title back in 2000.

Host Steve Harvey recently announced the winner of the pageant. Harnaaz Sandhu stood in a silver stone studded gown, holding her competitor's hand, a few moments ahead of the winner's announcement. As soon as she was announced the winner, she broke into tears. Harnaaz hails from Chandigarh, Punjab, and was also the Miss Universe India 2021.

Harnaaz Sandhu is the third Indian woman to be crowned Miss Universe. Bollywood diva Sushmita Sen won the beauty pageant in 1994. Later, in 2000, Lara Dutta brought home the winner's crown.

Who is Harnaaz Sandhu?

Indian model Harnaaz Sandhu hails from Chandigarh, Punjab. She is the newest holder of the Miss Universe India 2021 title, due to which she went on to represent the country at the 70th edition of Miss Universe 2021. The 21-year-old has multiple pageant titles to her name and has starred in some Punjabi films, including Yaara Diyan Poo Baran and Bai Ji Kuttange. 

 As per her Instagram, Harnaaz enjoys singing, acting, yoga, swimming, dancing and more. Before winning the Miss Universe India 2021 title, she won Miss Max Emerging Star India in 2018. While she did not win the Femina Miss India 219 by 11 spots, she later went to represent Chandigarh at Miss Diva 2021 in September.
Announcing her Miss Universe India 2021 win via Instagram, Harnaaz Sandhu wrote, "And finally! The journey to the Universe has started. When you want something, all the universe conspires in helping you to achieve it and today, I am feeling this from the bottom of my heart.

Image: Instagram/@harnaazsandhu_03