How Miss Universe Harnaaz Sandhu reigned supreme, inspired change and beat the bullies

The Indian pageant champion's positive legacy will be her crowning glory as she prepares to hand the title to her successor

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

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

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 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

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

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

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

Harnaaz Sandhu during the preliminary stage of the 70th Miss Universe pageant. AFP

She brought home the Miss Universe crown after 21 years, becoming only the third Indian contestant to win the title in 2021. Now, as Harnaaz Sandhu prepares to crown her successor at a glitzy event in New Orleans on Saturday, she can proudly look back at a memorable tenure.

“I went from representing my city, to representing Punjab state, then to representing India, my country and now to representing the whole universe,” Sandhu, who is from Chandigarh, previously told The National. She was crowned the 70th Miss Universe in December 2021 in Israel.

One of the longest-running and most-watched beauty competitions in the world, Miss Universe is broadcast in 165 countries and seen by more than half a billion people annually.

Like past winners, Sandhu relocated to New York, where the Miss Universe Organisation is headquartered, soon after her win.

Passionate advocacy

Inspired by her gynaecologist mother, Sandhu has been vocal about women's empowerment right from her early pageant days winning Miss Chandigarh 2017. She has been specifically working towards menstrual equity helping to reduce stigma, influence policy and promote access to sanitary products.

For this, she's visited 25 cities in nine countries to help spread awareness. She has given more than 50 speeches at events across the world, from India to the Philippines and South Africa.

While on a trip to India in December, Sandhu launched a coalition for menstrual equity comprising of 11 non-profit organisations, which aims to reach five million women in 200 locations by 2025.

Dealing with trolls

Sandhu presenting a creation by designers Shivan and Narresh during the Lakme Fashion Week in New Delhi in March 2022. AFP

In April last year, Sandhu became a target of online trolls after she walked the runway at the Lakme Fashion Week, with some people calling her "fat".

Sandhu responded later, while also revealing that she has celiac disease, which affects the sufferer's diet meaning they must avoid foods containing gluten, such as bread.

"I'm one of those individuals who was first bullied that 'she's too skinny' and now they bully me saying 'she's fat'," she said a few days later, adding: "I am one of the courageous and confident girls who believes even if I'm fat, even if I'm thin, it's my body, I love myself."

The online bullying also prompted former Miss Universe Catriona Gray to speak up in support of Sandhu.

"Imagine being a 21-year-old girl who reached her dream of being a Miss Universe, and experiencing that,” Gray, who is from the Philippines and who won the crown in 2018, said. “If I were 21 years old and in that position, I can just imagine how it would affect me."

"We should continue to talk against body shaming. Weight is not even a fraction of who we are," she said. "I really want to send the message that that sort of negativity does not deserve a space."

Glitzy appearances

Miss Universe winners through the years and the organisation's new owner Anne Jakkaphong Jakrajutatip at the Miss Universe Extravaganza in Bangkok, Thailand. From left, Catriona Gray (Philippines), Andrea Meza (Mexico), Jakrajutatip, Harnaaz Sandhu (India), Leila Lopes (Angola) and Natalie Glebova (Canada). All photos: AFP

The group appeared together weeks after Jakrajutatip, the chief executive of Thai media and content company JKN Global Group, acquired the Miss Universe Organisation from IMG.

Miss Universe 2005 Glebova on stage.

Miss Universe 2011 Leila Lopez.

From left, Miss Universe president Paula Shugart, Jakrajutatip and Miss Universe chief executive Amy Emmerich.

Jakrajutatip said she will work to evolve the Miss Universe brand for the next generation.

Miss Universe 2018 Catriona Gray arrives at the event.

Miss Universe 2020 Andrea Meza on stage.

Jakrajutatip is the first woman owner in the 70-year history of the global beauty competition.

The gala event was held at the Siam Pavalai Royal Grand Theatre in Bangkok.

Being Miss Universe also gave Sandhu access to glamorous events around the world, as well as high-profile appearances.

In August, she stole the show at the Miss South Africa pageant where Ndavi Nokeri won the crown, and will represent her country at the Miss Universe pageant on Saturday. Two weeks later, Sandhu was in India to crown her successor, Divita Rai, at a swanky event in Mumbai.

Sandhu has also been spotted at New York Fashion Week in September and at the Gotham Awards in November where she rubbed shoulders with Hollywood's elite.

Also in August, she stopped by The Daily Show with Trevor Noah to teach the host some Bollywood dance moves and speak about her Miss Universe journey.

Miss Universe 2022 Harnaaz Sandhu teaching The Daily Show host Trevor Noah some Bollywood dance moves. Photo: YouTube / The Daily Show with Trevor Noah

"For me, Miss Universe was never about looking beautiful and wearing glitz and glam," Sandhu told Noah, who hosted his final show on the long-running show in December.

"For me, it's a platform where you can talk about things you want to do. And I also wanted to leave a legacy and tell women around the world that 'If I can do it, you can do it too'."

The Bollywood dream is alive

Harnaaz Sandhu at the Empire State Building in January 2022. AFP

Sandhu has always wanted to be an actress, having appeared in several Punjabi films and TV shows, but has dreams of becoming a Bollywood star.

"My dream has always been to be in a Bollywood movie," she told Noah during her appearance.

In her interview with The National after her win, she revealed her hopes of becoming a global star.

“I am an actress for sure, I have done TV for the last five years, and I would pursue acting — it could be globally," she said.

"My vision for acting is really different. I want to be an actress who breaks stereotypes of women and what they can be if given the chance, by choosing strong characters."

However, she added she prefers to "go with the flow".

“Life is unpredictable so you should plan less. Dig deep, breathe, and remember everything happens for a reason," she said. "I took that belief with me everywhere I've been so far and I think that is what has made me unstoppable.”