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India’s Harnaaz Sandhu crowned Miss Universe while Philippines’ Beatrice Gomez ends in top 5
- The event was affected by both the pandemic and politics; some called for a boycott over Israel’s treatment of Palestinians
- Competition has large following in India and the Philippines, with both countries producing previous winners
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Millions of Indians were overjoyed to watch their nation’s Harnaaz Sandhu – a 21-year-old model, actress, student and “feline impersonator” – win this year’s Miss Universe competition.
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The young woman from Chandigarh, Punjab followed in the footsteps of fellow Indians Sushmita Sen, who won in 1994, and Lara Dutta, crowned victor six years later.
Sandhu, her 5ft 9 inch frame turning heads in a shimmery silver gown, became the 70th Miss Universe, edging out Paraguay’s Nadia Ferreira and South Africa’s Lalela Mswane to win the crown and thereby disappointing the many fans of Filipino contestant Beatrice Luigi Gomez.
The Indian beat 79 contestants after introducing herself “as a young girl who faced fragile mental health and body shaming and bullying before she realised her true potential”.
Sandhu said she was “overwhelmed because it’s been 21 years since India got the Miss Universe crown and it’s happening right now”.
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Having first taken part in a beauty pageant aged 17, she aced every round with charm and confidence, whether talking about global warming and climate change or pretending to be a cat when asked by host Steve Harvey for her “best” animal impersonation; one of her hobbies is mimicking animal sounds.
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