Creating history, 21-year-old Harnaaz Sandhu from Punjab’s Chandigarh, was crowned Miss Universe 2021 on Monday. She became the first Indian to get the honour after over two decades.
She was crowned the coveted 70th Miss Universe 2021 title on Monday, December 13 at a glittering virtual event staged in Eilat, Israel. Sandhu became the third Indian woman to win the title and the first since Lara Dutta in 2000.
Several celebrities like Priyanka Chopra, Lara Dutta and even Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated Sandhu on social media.
Chopra, the winner of the Miss World 2000 pageant, tweeted a video of the crowning ceremony and wrote “And the new Miss Universe is… Miss India”. She also congratulated Sandhu for bringing the crown home after 21 years.
Dutta took to Twitter and wrote, “Welcome to the club!!! We’ve waited 21 long years for this!!! You make us SO SO proud!!! A billion dreams come true!!!”
Sandhu was born into a Sikh family and hails from Chandigarh. She has worked in Punjabi films such as Yaara Diyan Poo Baran and Bai Ji Kuttange. In 2017, Sandhu won Miss Chandigarh and later in 2018, the title of Miss Max Emerging Star India 2018. She had competed for Miss India 2019 ending up in the top 12. The same year, she won the Miss India Punjab title.
During the competition, the contestants were asked, “What advice would you give to young women watching on how to deal with the pressures they face today?”
To this, Sandhu said, “The biggest pressure the youth of 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 believed in myself and that is why I am standing here today.”
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PM Modi tweeted, ” “Congratulations to Harnaaz Sandhu on being crowned Miss Universe. Best wishes to her for her future endeavours.”
Dia Mirza, Sushmita Sen, Juhi Chawla, and Vivek Oberoi were among the others to post congratulatory messages for the actor-model.