21-yr-old Harnaaz brings home Ms Universe crown after 21 years. her final answer became instantly a motivational speech.
Manjula Murari
Twenty one years and it is one huge moment for India. After the long wait, the Miss Universe crown comes home once again. Harnaaz sandhu, who incidentally is 21 years old, is an Indian model who won the title at the pageant held at Eilat, Isreal.
Harnaaz Kaur Sandhu competed from participants from 79 countries to bring home the crown after Lara Dutta. The first person to win the Miss Universe crown was Sushmita Sen who went on to become a popular actor.
Shinde says she and her friends had a watch party and when the announcement was made, it was total meyham as the dress will now go down in history as the ‘winning gown’.
Harnaaz Sandhu’s costume, which was a champagne and silver shimmering formal gown, was designed by Saisha Shinde. Shinde says she wanted to give Harnaaz a costume that would speak elegance, sophistication and glamour. At the same time, she says she took care not to go over the top either. But we wanted her to look strong and modern, so we gave the gown a centre parting. Shinde says she and her friends had a watch party and when the announcement was made, it was total meyham as the dress will now go down in history as the ‘winning gown’.
“Come out, speak for yourselves…”
Harnaaz competed against Paraguay’s Nadia Ferreira and South Africa’s Lalela Mswane. She was crowned by Andrea Meza, former Miss Universe 2020 from Mexico. However, one of the primary reasons for Harnaaz to get the crown was her candid reply when she was asked what advice she would give to young women on how to deal with pressure they face. Harnaaz said, “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 yourselves with others and let’s talk about more important things that are happening worldwide. This is what you need to understand. Come out, speak for yourselves because you are the leader of your life, you are the voice of your own. I believed in myself and that’s why I am standing here today,” she said as the audience applauded.
Harnaaz, however, is no novice to the world of glamour and glitz. She was crowned Miss Diva 2021, Femina Miss India Punjab 2019 and was placed among the top 12 at Femina Miss India 2019.
Incidentally, Harnaaz has also debuted on silver screen with Punjabi films Yaara Diyan Poo Baran and Bai Ji Kuttange.
