India's Harnaaz Sandhu crown as Miss Universe 2021

Highlights:

• Harnaaz Sandhu from India has become the new Miss Universe 2021, 21 years after Lara Dutta on 12 December.
• The 70th Miss Universe 2021 was held in Eilat, Israel, where Ms. Harnaaz Sandhu represented India.
• Ms. Sandhu, 21-year-old and from Punjab, claimed the Miss Universe crown, defeating Nadia Ferreira from Paraguay and Lalela Mswane from South Africa.
• Crown was presented to Ms. Sandhu by Andrea Meza, former Miss Universe 2020, Mexico.
• Before Ms. Sandhu, only two Indians have won Miss Universe's title, Sushmita Sen in 1994 and Lara Dutta in 2000.

• Ms. Sandhu had begun her journey at the age of 17 in pageantry. She has previously won  Femina Miss India Punjab 2019, Miss Diva 2021, and She was placed in Top 12 at Femina Miss India 2019.
• She has also performed in Punjabi movies like  Yaara Diyan Poo Baran and Bai Ji Kuttange.

• Miss Universe is a yearly international beauty pageant conducted by the United States-based Miss Universe Organization.
• This pageant is one of the most-streamed pageants worldwide, with an audience of 500 million spectators across 190 territories.
• Apart from Miss World, Miss International, Miss Earth, and Miss Universe are the Big Four international beauty pageants.
• Miss Universe Organization and its brand are now held by Endeavor and  Telemundo hold the license to air the pageant for the following 5 years.