Miss India Harnaaz Sandhu was crowned Miss Universe on Monday in a glitzy final hosted in Israel, and held despite tightening border controls owing to COVID-19.
“I feel overwhelmed because it’s been 21 years since India got the Miss Universe crown,” Sandhu said in the southern resort town of Eilat.
The Bollywood actor and model beat runners-up from Paraguay and South Africa to take the crown, after the 80 competitors were gradually whittled down during the night.
The stars certainly aligned for Miss India. Harnaaz is 21 years old. It’s been 21 years since India was last crowned. And she is Miss Universe 2021.
India’s last winner Lara Dutta Bhupathi tweeted a congratulations to Harnaaz.
“Congratulations @HarnaazSandhu03!!!! Welcome to the club!!! We’ve waited 21 long years for this!!! You make us SO SO proud!!! A billion dreams come true!!! @MissDivaOrg@MissUniverse”
Finalists were questioned on issues such as coronavirus vaccine passports, climate change and body shaming.
For the first time in the competition’s 70-year history, Bahrain was represented with Manar Nadeem Deyani vying for the crown.