The 70th Miss Universe beauty pageant took place at Eilat, Israel has been won by India’s Harnaaz Sandhu. Chandigarh-born Harnaaz has brought the crown back home after 21 years. Before Harnaaz, only two Indian women – Lara Dutta in 2000 and Sushmita Sen in 1994, has won the beauty pageant.
Harnaaz made it to the finale with Miss Paraguay Nadia Ferreira and Miss South Africa Lalela Mswane.
Who is Harnaaz Sandhu?
Harnaaz, 21, was born on March 3, 2000, into a Sikh family in Punjab’s Gurdaspur district and now residing in Chandigarh. A yoga aficionado and fitness fanatic, Harnaaz began her adventure in her teens. She started modelling at a very young age and in 2017, she was crowned Miss Chandigarh, and in 2018, she was crowned Miss Max Emerging Star India 2018. She reached to finale during the Miss Universe 2020 beauty pageant.
Along with studying, she also does acting. She has worked in some Punjabi films. He has worked in the movies ‘Yaara Diya Pu Baran’ and ‘Bai Ji Kuttange’. Although she wants to become a judge and is still pursuing her studies.
She attended Shivalik Public School and the Post Graduate Government College for Girls. She speaks Punjabi, Hindi, and English fluently.
As per her Miss Universe delegate bio, Harnaaz drew inspiration from her mother who broke generations of patriarchy to become a successful gynecologist and led her family.
“Driven to support other women the same way, Harnaaz grew up working with her mother at health camps addressing women’s health and menstrual hygiene. Deeply conscious of the privilege her mother’s struggles have gifted her, Harnaaz today is a strong advocate for women’s empowerment, particularly their constitutional rights to education, careers, and their freedom of choice,” the bio reads.
“In her spare time, Harnaaz enjoys the company of friends, loves yoga, dancing, cooking, horse riding, and playing chess. She is a water baby and never misses a chance to jump into a pool to rejuvenate herself. She believes in the saying – Great things happen to those who don’t stop believing, trying, learning, and being grateful,” her delegate bio further read.
Some fun facts about the new Miss Universe:-
- She can mimic anything, including animals.
- She loves to write couplets in her mother tongue.
- She is a closet singer.