• Divita Rai, 23, winner of Miss Diva 2022. All photos: @missdivaorg / Instagram
    Divita Rai, 23, winner of Miss Diva 2022. All photos: @missdivaorg / Instagram
  • Miss Universe 2021 Harnaaz Sandhu, right, crowns her successor.
    Miss Universe 2021 Harnaaz Sandhu, right, crowns her successor.
  • Miss Diva is India's national pageant and Rai will now represent India in the Miss Universe 2022 pageant.
    Miss Diva is India's national pageant and Rai will now represent India in the Miss Universe 2022 pageant.
  • Divita Rai, Miss Diva 2022, with last year's winner Harnaaz Sandhu, who is also the reigning Miss Universe 2021.
    Divita Rai, Miss Diva 2022, with last year's winner Harnaaz Sandhu, who is also the reigning Miss Universe 2021.
  • Divita Rai is an architect and a model.
    Divita Rai is an architect and a model.
  • Miss Diva Supranational 2022 winner Pragnya Ayyagari. She will represent India at the global Miss Supranational pageant.
    Miss Diva Supranational 2022 winner Pragnya Ayyagari. She will represent India at the global Miss Supranational pageant.
  • Miss Popular Choice 2022 award winner Ojasvi Sharma, left, was chosen via audience votes.
    Miss Popular Choice 2022 award winner Ojasvi Sharma, left, was chosen via audience votes.
  • The three top prize winners. From left, Pragnya Ayyagari, Miss Diva Supranational 2022; Divita Rai, Miss Diva Universe 2022; and Ojasvi Sharma, Miss Popular Choice 2022.
    The three top prize winners. From left, Pragnya Ayyagari, Miss Diva Supranational 2022; Divita Rai, Miss Diva Universe 2022; and Ojasvi Sharma, Miss Popular Choice 2022.
  • All the contestants of Miss Diva India 2022.
    All the contestants of Miss Diva India 2022.
  • Miss Universe 2021, Harnaaz Kaur Sandhu, awarded with the Pride of India trophy by Vineet Jain, managing director of 'The Times of India'.
    Miss Universe 2021, Harnaaz Kaur Sandhu, awarded with the Pride of India trophy by Vineet Jain, managing director of 'The Times of India'.

Miss Universe Harnaaz Sandhu crowns Miss India successor Divita Rai


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Divita Rai has been crowned Miss Diva Universe 2022 at a glittering awards ceremony in India.

She was crowned by Harnaaz Sandhu, the current Miss Universe titleholder and India's departing Miss Diva Universe 2021.

Miss Diva, or Miss Diva Universe, is India's national pageant and Rai, 23, an architect and model from Mumbai, will now represent India in the overall Miss Universe 2022 pageant.

The dates and location for the 71st Miss Universe have not yet been announced.

The event in Mumbai also crowned its representative to the Miss Supranational competition and Pragnya Ayyagari won the title of Miss Diva Supranational. She will go to compete on the international stage.

Miss Diva, established in 2013, is a part of the Femina Miss India pageant, which selects India's representatives for Miss Universe, one of the Big Four international beauty competitions.

Sandhu returned to Mumbai this weekend for the pageant, for which she wore a beaded dress by Indian designer Gavin Miguel.

Scroll through the gallery below to see photos of Harnaaz Sandhu winning Miss Universe 2021

  • The new Miss Universe Harnaaz Sandhu of India gestures to the audience after being crowned at the Miss Universe 2021 pageant. EPA
    The new Miss Universe Harnaaz Sandhu of India gestures to the audience after being crowned at the Miss Universe 2021 pageant. EPA
  • Harnaaz Sandhu waves after being crowned Miss Universe. AP Photo
    Harnaaz Sandhu waves after being crowned Miss Universe. AP Photo
  • Miss Universe contestants congratulate Miss India, Harnaaz Sandhu, as she is crowned Miss Universe. AFP
    Miss Universe contestants congratulate Miss India, Harnaaz Sandhu, as she is crowned Miss Universe. AFP
  • India's Harnaaz Sandhu waves after being crowned Miss Universe 2021 during the 70th Miss Universe pageant in Eilat, Israel. AP Photo
    India's Harnaaz Sandhu waves after being crowned Miss Universe 2021 during the 70th Miss Universe pageant in Eilat, Israel. AP Photo
  • Miss Universe 2020 Andrea Meza, right, crowns India's Harnaaz Sandhu as Miss Universe 2021. AP Photo
    Miss Universe 2020 Andrea Meza, right, crowns India's Harnaaz Sandhu as Miss Universe 2021. AP Photo
  • Miss Paraguay Nadia Ferreira, left, embraces Miss India Harnaaz Sandhu after the winner is announced. AFP
    Miss Paraguay Nadia Ferreira, left, embraces Miss India Harnaaz Sandhu after the winner is announced. AFP
  • Miss India Harnaaz Sandhu, right, reacts as she wins Miss Universe 2021. EPA
    Miss India Harnaaz Sandhu, right, reacts as she wins Miss Universe 2021. EPA
  • Outgoing Miss Universe Andrea Meza of Mexico places a crown on the head of Miss Universe winner Harnaaz Sandhu of India. Reuters
    Outgoing Miss Universe Andrea Meza of Mexico places a crown on the head of Miss Universe winner Harnaaz Sandhu of India. Reuters
  • Harnaaz Sandhu poses during the pageant. EPA
    Harnaaz Sandhu poses during the pageant. EPA
  • The top three finalists: Miss South Africa Lalela Mswane, Miss India Harnaaz Sandhu, and Miss Paraguay Nadia Ferreira. EPA
    The top three finalists: Miss South Africa Lalela Mswane, Miss India Harnaaz Sandhu, and Miss Paraguay Nadia Ferreira. EPA
  • Miss India Harnaaz Sandhu during the swimsuit competition of the 70th Miss Universe pageant. AFP
    Miss India Harnaaz Sandhu during the swimsuit competition of the 70th Miss Universe pageant. AFP
  • Harnaaz Sandhu wears a maroon cap-sleeved one-piece swimsuit during the swimwear portion of the competition. AFP
    Harnaaz Sandhu wears a maroon cap-sleeved one-piece swimsuit during the swimwear portion of the competition. AFP
  • US television and pageant host Steve Harvey asks Miss India Harnaaz Sandhu the final question during the 70th Miss Universe competition. AFP
    US television and pageant host Steve Harvey asks Miss India Harnaaz Sandhu the final question during the 70th Miss Universe competition. AFP
  • During the national costume segment, she wore a gold embellished lehenga, and carried a traditional wedding parasol. AFP
    During the national costume segment, she wore a gold embellished lehenga, and carried a traditional wedding parasol. AFP
  • Harnaaz Sandhu during the preliminary stage of the 70th Miss Universe pageant. AFP
    Harnaaz Sandhu during the preliminary stage of the 70th Miss Universe pageant. AFP

Organisers said that as Sandhu "will be taking her final walk" as the national titleholder, the dress serves as "an ode to her beautiful reign".

The overall winner of Miss Universe 2022 is unlikely to be crowned until December or early next year, but contestants are already lining up to compete.

More than 35 countries, from the UK to Ukraine and Guatemala to Ghana, have named their representatives, with many more to be unveiled over the coming months.

Over at Miss Universe Bahrain, organisers have confirmed the winner's name will be revealed to the public on September 11.

Miss Universe 2022 beauty queens crowned so far, from Iraq to Thailand — in pictures

  • Miss Universe Turkey 2022 is Aleyana Sirin. Photo: Instagram / Aleyanasirinn
    Miss Universe Turkey 2022 is Aleyana Sirin. Photo: Instagram / Aleyanasirinn
  • Miss Universe Italy 2022 is Virginia Stablum. Photo: / Instagram / Virginia.Stablum
    Miss Universe Italy 2022 is Virginia Stablum. Photo: / Instagram / Virginia.Stablum
  • Miss Universe Kyrgyzstan 2022 is Altynai Botoyarova. Photo: Instagram / botoyarova_altynai
    Miss Universe Kyrgyzstan 2022 is Altynai Botoyarova. Photo: Instagram / botoyarova_altynai
  • Evlin Khalifa, 24, is the second Miss Universe Bahrain. Photo: Miss Universe Bahrain
    Evlin Khalifa, 24, is the second Miss Universe Bahrain. Photo: Miss Universe Bahrain
  • Miss Universe Spain, Alicia Faubel, comes from Alicante and has lived in Dubai and the Philippines. Photo: Instagram / alicia.aliccia
    Miss Universe Spain, Alicia Faubel, comes from Alicante and has lived in Dubai and the Philippines. Photo: Instagram / alicia.aliccia
  • Divita Rai, 23, winner of India's Miss Diva Universe 2022. Photo: Miss Diva
    Divita Rai, 23, winner of India's Miss Diva Universe 2022. Photo: Miss Diva
  • Sophiya Bhujel was crowned Oriflame Miss Universe Nepal 2022. Photo: Miss Universe Nepal
    Sophiya Bhujel was crowned Oriflame Miss Universe Nepal 2022. Photo: Miss Universe Nepal
  • Ndavi Nokeri, winner of Miss Universe South Africa 2022. Photo: Miss South Africa
    Ndavi Nokeri, winner of Miss Universe South Africa 2022. Photo: Miss South Africa
  • Anna Sueangam-iam was named Miss Universe Thailand 2022. Photo: Miss Universe
    Anna Sueangam-iam was named Miss Universe Thailand 2022. Photo: Miss Universe
  • Balsam Hussein when she was declared Miss Iraq 2022. Azhar Al-Rubaie for The National
    Balsam Hussein when she was declared Miss Iraq 2022. Azhar Al-Rubaie for The National
  • Yasmina Zaytoun after being crowned Miss Lebanon 2022 at Forum De Beirut. EPA
    Yasmina Zaytoun after being crowned Miss Lebanon 2022 at Forum De Beirut. EPA
  • Noky Simbani was crowned Miss Universe Great Britain 2022. Photo: Instagram / Miss Universe Great Britain
    Noky Simbani was crowned Miss Universe Great Britain 2022. Photo: Instagram / Miss Universe Great Britain
  • Miss Ukraine 2022 is Viktoria Apanasenko, first runner-up from last year's contest. There was no pageant held this year owing to the war in the country. Photo: Instagram / Viktoria Apanasenko
    Miss Ukraine 2022 is Viktoria Apanasenko, first runner-up from last year's contest. There was no pageant held this year owing to the war in the country. Photo: Instagram / Viktoria Apanasenko
  • Nguyen Thi Ngoc Chau has been named Miss Universe Vietnam 2022. Photo: Facebook / Nguyen Thi Ngoc Chau
    Nguyen Thi Ngoc Chau has been named Miss Universe Vietnam 2022. Photo: Facebook / Nguyen Thi Ngoc Chau
  • Filipino-Italian beauty queen Celeste Cortesi was crowned Miss Universe Philippines 2022 in Manila. EPA-EFE
    Filipino-Italian beauty queen Celeste Cortesi was crowned Miss Universe Philippines 2022 in Manila. EPA-EFE
  • Bhutan is marking its pageant debut this year and Tashi Choden is the country's first beauty queen. Photo: Tashi Choden
    Bhutan is marking its pageant debut this year and Tashi Choden is the country's first beauty queen. Photo: Tashi Choden
  • Laksmi Suardana took the Puteri Indonesia 2022 crown, becoming the first contestant from Bali to enter Miss Universe. Photo: Laksmi Shari De Neefe Suardana
    Laksmi Suardana took the Puteri Indonesia 2022 crown, becoming the first contestant from Bali to enter Miss Universe. Photo: Laksmi Shari De Neefe Suardana
  • Miss Universe Ghana 2022 Engracia Afua K Mofuman was one of the first women to be crowned in 2022, in order to compete in the 71st Miss Universe pageant. Photo: Engracia Mofuman
    Miss Universe Ghana 2022 Engracia Afua K Mofuman was one of the first women to be crowned in 2022, in order to compete in the 71st Miss Universe pageant. Photo: Engracia Mofuman
  • Hanna Kim, from Seoul, will represent South Korea in the next Miss Universe pageant. Photo: Hanna Ming
    Hanna Kim, from Seoul, will represent South Korea in the next Miss Universe pageant. Photo: Hanna Ming
  • The first and last time the Seychelles competed in Miss Universe was 1995 and so, after that 27-year hiatus, Gabriella Gonthier, from Mahe, will be representing her home country. Photo: Gabriella Gonthier/ Miss University Africa
    The first and last time the Seychelles competed in Miss Universe was 1995 and so, after that 27-year hiatus, Gabriella Gonthier, from Mahe, will be representing her home country. Photo: Gabriella Gonthier/ Miss University Africa
  • Amelia Tu, from Vancouver, winner of Miss Universe Canada 2022. Photo: Miss Universe Canada
    Amelia Tu, from Vancouver, winner of Miss Universe Canada 2022. Photo: Miss Universe Canada
  • Miss Universe Jamaica 2022, Toshami Calvin, 26, is the cousin of Miss World 2019 Toni-Ann Singh. Photo: Instagram / officialmissuniversejamaica
    Miss Universe Jamaica 2022, Toshami Calvin, 26, is the cousin of Miss World 2019 Toni-Ann Singh. Photo: Instagram / officialmissuniversejamaica
Updated: August 30, 2022, 6:48 AM