Chak de phatte India! Harnaaz Sandhu brings home the Miss Universe title after 21 years

Eliat, December 13: Another Glorious moment for India as scripting history and making entire nation proud, India's Harnaaz Sandhu, brought back the Miss Universe Crown to home, nearly 21 years after Lara Dutta won the title in 2000. Sandhu was named the winner of the 70th edition of the Miss Universe pageant on Sunday night in Eliat, Israel.

 

 

The 21-year-old actor and model has bagged the crown for Miss Universe 2021, by edging out Paraguay's Nadia Ferreira and South Africa's Lalela Mswane. The moment her name was declared as the winner, Harnaaz broke down in tears of joy. She could also be seen joining her hands in gratitude. She was crowned by her predecessor, Andrea Meza, from Mexico.

 

 

 

She impressed everyone with her answer when, as part of the Top 3 round, the contestants were asked, "What advice would you give to young women watching on how to deal with the pressures they face today?"

 

 

To which, Harnaaz said, "Well, I think 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's happening worldwide. I think this is what you need to understand. Come out, speak for yourself, because you are the leader of your life. You are the voice of your own [life]. I believe in myself and that's why I'm standing here today. Thank you."

 

 

 

Expressing pride in the country's win, Harnaaz said, "Chak de phatte India, Chak de phatte."

 

Harnaaz is a 21-year-old model from Chandigarh who has finished school and college in the city. She has been in the industry for many years and even has many numerous pageant titles to her name. She has also starred in Punjabi films like Yaara Diyan Poo Baran and Bai Ji Kuttange. Harnaaz was the winner of Times Fresh Face Miss Chandigarh 2017, Miss Max Emerging Star India 2018, and Femina Miss India Punjab 2019.

 

Before the Chandigarh-based model, only two Indians had won the title of Miss Universe - actors Sushmita Sen in 1994 and Lara Dutta in 2000.

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