7 surprising facts about Harnaaz Sandhu’s Miss Universe win

Harnaaz Brought the Crown Home After 21 Years

India’s last Miss Universe before Harnaaz was Lara Dutta in 2000. Harnaaz’s victory in 2021 ended a 21-year wait and felt like a generational pass of the torch

Third Indian to Win Miss Universe

Before Harnaaz, only Sushmita Sen (1994) and Lara Dutta (2000) had won the prestigious Miss Universe Crown. It was first time a Sikh woman took the crown

She`s a True Gen-Z Winner

Born in March 2000, Harnaaz was 21 when she won the glorious crown, making her the first India-born Miss Universe from the Gen-Z cohort

Her Finale Gown Was Made By Trans Designer

For the big crowning moment Harnaaz wore a shimmering gown designed by Saisha (formerly known as Swapnil) Shinde, a milestone spotlight for a trans designer

She won in Eilat, Israel

The 70th Miss Universe coronation finished in Eilat, Israel, wrapping up around 5 a.m. local time so it could air in primetime across the America

Her ‘Meow’ Moment That Went Viral

During the preliminary interviews, Harnaaz playfully responded to a judge’s request with a spontaneous “meow” — a light-hearted moment that instantly went viral

Her Final Answer Sealed the Deal

In the last Q&A Harnaaz spoke about the pressures young people face: her message was blunt and uplifting — believe in yourself, stop comparing, speak up