Meet Miss Universe 2021, Harnaaz Sandhu: the pageant’s third Indian winner is a yoga addict, stans Priyanka Chopra and won in a dress by trans designer Saisha Shinde
- Congratulations from past winners Lara Dutta and Sushmita Sen, as well as Bollywood stars Kareena Kapoor and Kangana Ranaut, have trickled in on Twitter and Instagram
- The beauty queen was asked to make animal noises – host Steve Harvey’s latest Miss Universe gaffe – and then later was quizzed for her take on climate change
So, what else do we know about the 21-year-old beauty queen?
She’s no stranger to pageantry
Despite her young age, Sandhu is actually a pro at beauty pageants. As informed by her brother, Harnoor, the Miss Universe 2021 winner always had a passion for modelling, acting and dance from an early age, reports Times of India. Sandhu entered her first beauty pageant as a teenager, winning Miss Chandigarh in 2017 and Miss Max Emerging Star India in 2018, before being crowned as Femina Miss India Punjab in 2019 and Miss Diva in 2021 respectively.
After her historic triumph, the Sandhu family told Tribune India the following: “She is very confident, down to earth and belongs to a middle class family. Beauty pageants, glamour industry always excited her and she was focused on her goal.”
She believes in women’s empowerment
As quoted from her Miss Universe official profile, Sandhu looks up to her mother for inspiration. While her father is a property agent, her mum Ruby Sandhu is a successful gynaecologist “who broke generations of patriarchy”.
Born in the Kohali village in Gurdaspur district, Punjab, she grew up working with her mum at health camps that help address issues on women’s health and menstrual hygiene. She is also a strong advocate for women’s empowerment, particularly their constitutional rights to education, careers and their freedom of choice. Before her win, the yoga enthusiast earned her bachelor’s degree in information technology and was pursuing her master’s in public administration.