Punjabi beauty Harnaaz Sandhu has taken the Miss Universe 2021 crown, ending India’s 21 year drought when model-actress Lara Dutta won it in 2000. Harnaaz is a 21-year-old model from Chandigarh who finished her 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. 

By DESIBUZZCanada Staff With News Files

CHANDIGARH – Punjabi beauty Harnaaz Sandhu has taken the Miss Universe 2021 crown, ending India’s 21 year drought when model-actress Lara Dutta won it in 2000.

The 21-year-old model was crowned the Miss Universe 2021 on December 12 at Universe Dome in Eilat, Israel. Harnaaz will bring India the Miss Universe crown after 21 years. 

The news of Harnaaz’s win was posted by the official Instagram account of Miss Universe Organisation. They shared the exact moment the beauty queen was crowned the coveted title at the event being held in Israel. “The new Miss Universe is…India,” they captioned the clip. The clip shows Miss Universe 2020 Andrea Meza of Mexico crowning an emotional Harnaaz, who will become her successor.

Harnaaz Sandhu of India was crowned the 70th Miss Universe on Monday (IST), topping a field of some 80 contestants in a pageant that was touched by politics and the pandemic. She beat out 79 other contestants from various countries and territories — including runner-up Miss Paraguay Nadia Ferreira and second runner-up Miss South Africa Lalela Mswane — to claim the prestigious title. 

Harnaaz is a 21-year-old model from Chandigarh who finished her 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.

Miss Universe 2021 was born and raised in Punjab. Harnaaz Sandhu is currently pursuing her Masters’ degree in Public Administration.

Here are 5 things to know about Harnaaz Sandhu:

Harnaaz Sandhu today brought home the Miss Universe crown, two decades after Lara Dutta won the title in 2000. The 21-year-old bagged the coveted pageant at the 70th edition of the event held in Eilat, Israel.

Born and raised in Punjab, Harnaaz Sandhu attended Shivalik Public School and Post Graduate Government College for Girls, both in Chandigarh. The diva is currently pursuing her Masters’ degree in Public Administration.

Ms Sandhu began competing in pageantry at the age of 17 and has won titles such as Miss Chandigarh 2017 and Miss Max Emerging Star India 2018.

In 2019, she won the title of Femina Miss India Punjab 2019 after which she competed in Femina Miss India. She was in the top 12 in Femina Miss India.

Now Miss Universe Harnaaz Sandhu will reside in New York and participate in a number of events globally.