Once Bodyshamed, Here’s Miss Universe Harnaaz Kaur Sandhu’s Incredible Journey

Harnaaz Kaur Sandhu, India’s representative at the 70th Miss Universe 2021, held in Eilat, Israel has won the title. In clinching the title, 21-year-old Harnaaz has brought back the Miss Universe title to India after 21 years when Lara Dutta won the title in 2000.

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A resident of Chandigarh, Harnaaz’s tryst with the beauty pageants began when she was 17 and participated in a national pageant representing her city.

She went on to participate in Femina Miss India in 2019 and was crowned Femina Miss India Punjab the same year.

In this report, Harnaaz speaks about her growing up years and dealing with being bullied. She describes herself as an introvert and says that she had to deal with being body-shamed on various occasions. “I think I have overcome that by believing in my strength and by believing that every individual is unique and that what makes them different. It was all possible because of my mom's support. She has always been my hero and made me believe in my strength. My family plays a significant role in my worst stage. If I'm able to sit here and talk about myself with confidence, it's all because of my family.”

Her experiences have prompted her to normalise mental health issues and the fact that it is okay to not be okay at times. She said, “Hardships and struggles are a part of everyone's life and what we need to understand is how to have a positive outlook towards every situation that hits us because if God has given us challenges, they have also given us the power to come out of it.”

(Edited by Yoshita Rao)