From A Small Punjabi City To Winning Miss Universe: Harnaaz Sandhu's Inspiring Journey

Glamour, swimsuits, a successful Bollywood career may be the words you first associate with a beauty pageant crown but it is above all a personality contest. There is tremendous hard work, razor-sharp wit and presence of mind required to take the world stage. So, here is to Harnaaz Sandhu bringing home the Miss Universe crown after 21 years.

Congratulating Sandhu on her win, Lara Dutta, who won the crown in 2021 welcomed her to the Miss Universe club and wrote, "We’ve waited 21 long years for this." She added that Sandhu made her proud and made a billion dreams come true. Yes, indeed it is a major feat. The 21-year-old is the third Indian to be crowned Miss Universe. She won the title at Eilat, Israel. Sandhu, who hails from Punjab in the final round competed with winners from Paraguay Nadia Ferreira and South Africa Lalela Mswane. The first Indian to win the crown was Sushmita Sen in 1994.

Sandhu's win was celebrated by people from all quarters. The former Miss Universe title winners from India, Lara Dutta, Sushmita Sen and Priyanka Chopra took to their social media handles and congratulated Sandhu. Sen wrote, "Thank for representing India so beautifully!! May you reign supreme." Chopra posted her picture on her Instagram stories and praised for bringing back the crown to India after more than two decades.

Participants have to break many barriers to bag the coveted crown. In the final round, the top three contestants are asked the same question. For the trio this time it was, “What advice would you give to young women watching on how to deal with the pressures they face today?”

Sandhu answered, “The biggest pressure the youth today is facing, is to believe in themselves, to know that you are unique makes you beautiful. Stop comparing yourselves with others and let’s talk about more important things that are happening worldwide Come out, speak for yourself, because you are the leader of your life. You are the voice of your own. I believe in myself and that is why I am standing here today.”

Suggested Reading: Harnaaz Sandhu Wins Miss Universe Pageant For India After 21 Years

The participants from 80 countries had 45 days to prepare to represent their country on the world stage.

A climate warrior, Sandhu on being asked how she would convince people who believe climate change is not real, said "Honestly, my heart breaks to see how nature is going through a lot of problems and to all irresponsible behaviour. And I totally feel that this is the time to take action and talk less because each action could either kill or save nature. Preventing and protecting is better than repent and repair and this is what I'm trying to convince you guys today." 

Sandhu has already acted in two films Yaara Diyan Poo Baran and Bai Ji Kuttange. 

Harnaaz Sandhu Winner Miss Universe 2021

Sandhu was born and raised in Guruharsahai in a Punjabi Sikh family and attended Kalia Public School. She holds a bachelors degree in Information Technology and is currently pursuing a degree in public administration. She started her journey as a pageant contestant by winning Miss Ferozepur 2017 and Miss Max Emerging Star India 2018. She won Femina Miss India Punjab 2019, and then went on to compete in the Femina Miss India contest and was placed in the Top 12 participants.

In August 2021, she won the Miss Diva contest and thus was chosen as the representative for the Miss Universe contest. On winning the Miss Diva crown she had said, “I will make sure that I represent myself as the best version of my country and make India proud at Miss Universe 2021. Also, I see this opportunity as a way of strengthening the relations between Israel and India.” Indeed she kept her word. 

Representing your country at the highest level in any field is an honour winning the title bring prestige. The crown empowers the woman to bring to the fore issues that need attention. Like her predecessor, we hope Sandhu will champion the women's causes. 

The views expressed are the author's own.