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India's Harnaaz Sandhu has been crowned Miss Universe 2021, beating 79 other contestants on her way to the title.
Steve Harvey announced the winner during this year's ceremony which was held at the Universe Dome in Eilat, Israel. Last year's winner Miss Mexico, Andrea Meza presented Sandhu with the prestigious crown.
Eighty countries were represented at the 2021 Miss Universe competition with Sandhu coming in first ahead of Miss Paraguay Nadia Ferreira in second while Miss South Africa Lalela Mswane came third.
In 70 years of competition, Sandhu is the third Indian woman to be crowned Miss Universe after Sushmita Sen in 1994 and Lara Dutta in 2000.
Who is Harnaaz Sandhu?
Harnaaz Sandhu is a 21-year-old model and actress born on March 3, 2000 in Chandigarh, India. As well as having an already successful pageant career, Sandhu has a bachelor's degree in information technology and is currently pursuing her master's degree in public administration.
She credits her mother as her inspiration in life and also has a passion for sustainability, limiting our carbon footprint and promoting climate change awareness. Sandhu is fluent in Punjabi and English, and will star in two movies set for release in 2022, Yaara Diyan Poo Baran and Bai Ji Kuttange.
The 2021 Miss Universe pageant isn't the first one she's won this year. On 30 September she was also crowned Miss Diva 2021, which led to her becoming Miss India and representing her country at the Miss Universe competition.
Ahead of the competition, she posted a message to her fans on Instagram. She said: "It's been a ride full of love, fun and immense hard work. As I set to walk out on that stage today as 'India', I carry with me your prayers & love. Thank you to my family for standing by me, today & always."
The results of Miss Universe 2021
India's Sandhu beat 79 other contestants to be crowned Miss Universe 2021 while 16 competitors gained placements.
Paraguay's Ferreira was 1st runner-up while South Africa's Mswane was 2nd runner-up. Colombia's Valeria Ayos and Philippines Beatrice Gomez made up the rest of the top five finishers.
Placing in the top 10, in an unconfirmed order were Aruba's Thessaly Zimmerman, France's Clemence Botino, Puerto Rico's Michelle Colón, The Bahama's Chantel O'Brian and Elle Smith from the United States.
Rounding off the top 16 was Emma Collingridge from Great Britain, Juri Watanabe from Japan, Brenda Smith from Panama, Nandita Banna from Singapore, Luiseth Materán from Venezuela and Nguyễn Huỳnh Kim Duyên from Vietnam. Vietnam's Duyên was voted into the top 16 by viewers.
The judging panel, made up of former winners, models, actresses, and Steve Harvey's daughter Lori Harvey chose the winners for the 2021 Miss Universe pageant.
About the writer
Jamie Burton is a Newsweek Senior TV and Film Reporter (Interviews) based in London, U.K. His focus is reporting on ... Read more