PAGEANT Circle

Reigning Miss Universe Harnaaz Sandhu guested in an episode of "The Daily Show with Trevor Noah" that aired on Thursday, August 18 on Comedy Central. The Indian beauty was wearing a red dress by Wight Elephant Boutique and completed the ensemble with jewelry from Designer Dream Collection (DDC) and shoes from GUESS. During the interview with the award-winning South African comedian, Harnaaz shared how her mother inspired her advocacy for menstrual equity and taught Trevor some Bollywood dance moves. The topic of bullying was also brought up and Harnaaz confessed to being disheartened by the bashings on her weight gain but she never allow them to define who she is. For the 22-year-old, being timid and weak isn't the right way to be impactful and inspirational to the youngsters who look up to her. "I want to tell them that inspiration starts within you. If you inspire yourself, that's how you can inspire a lot of people outside too," she said. Here's the f

Reigning Miss Universe Harnaaz Sandhu has been announced to be part of the selection committee for the upcoming Miss South Africa 2022 pageant. The Indian beauty will join former queens Zozibini Tunzi (Miss Universe 2020) and Rolene Strauss (Miss World 2014) at the judging table to select the next South African representatives for Miss Universe, Miss World, and Miss Supranational. For her advice to the Top 10 finalists, Harnaaz said: "Be authentic! Use every minute and moment to showcase your true self, not only to the judges but to the people you are working with, those who are working on the production, your fans, and the global audience who is watching! This is your time to shine and make the most out of this magical storyline you have chosen to be a part of." Miss South Africa 2022 will air live from the SunBet Arena at Time Square, Pretoria on Saturday, August 13 at 6:30 p.m. local time. Photo: Miss South Africa

India's Sushmita Naveen Singh has been announced the winner of the Miss Continentes Unidos 2022 Best in National Costume. The event took place on Monday, August 1 at the Courtyard by Marriott hotel in Guayaquil, Ecuador. Joanna Camelle Mercado of the Philippines placed second while Gretha Matiauda of Paraguay placed third. The 15th edition of the Miss United Continents pageant will be held on Saturday, August 6 at Parque Las Vegas in the city of Portoviejo. A total of 25 contestants will battle it out for the title currently held by Colombia's Anairis Cadavid, who won in 2019. Photos: Organización Miss Continentes Unidos

The 58th Femina Miss India pageant was held on Sunday, July 3 at Jio World Convention Centre in Mumbai. A 21-year-old Bharatanatyam dancer from Karnataka, Sini Shetty, bested 29 other contestants to win the title of Femina Miss India 2022. Rubal Shekhawat from Rajasthan and Shinata Chauhan from Uttar Pradesh were respectively named the first and second runners-up while Gargee Nandy and Pragnya Ayyagari completed the Top 5 finalists. Last year's winner and 70th Miss World Top 13 placer, Manasa Varanasi, crowned her successor at the end of the event. The new Femina Miss India holds a degree in accounting and finance, and currently pursuing CFA as a professional course. She will now prepare to represent India at the 71st Miss World pageant. Femina Miss India 2022 Top 3 Photos: Femina Miss India

India's Deep Supriyam was crowned Miss Elite 2022 in an international pageant held last Friday, June 10 at Somabay, a modern town resort on the Red Sea in Egypt. The 28-year-old textile and costume designer from Mumbai succeeds last year's titleholder from Mexico, Fernanda Pumar. She bested over 30 other contestants to win the competition. "My parents always offered me the freedom to be whoever I wanted to be, and maybe that’s the reason I’ve achieved few precious things in life and yet to achieve more," she shared on social media. "I know that there are many women out there with a seed of dream they think one can live, to all those girls, go live it, enjoy each moment of reaching to it, because once you’re there it’s beautiful but the most memorable is the journey to it, it’s thrilling, challenging your patience, capability, belief and so much more when no one else sees it," she added. Shanon Tampon of the Philippines was named the first runner-up while Val

Reigning Miss Universe Harnaaz Sandhu has finally arrived in the Philippines for her first official visit as an invited special guest for the upcoming Miss Universe Philippines 2022 pageant. The Indian beauty flew on a private plane from Delhi, India to Manila on Sunday, April 24. She wore a colorful dress by Ranna Gill on her arrival. "Mabuhay Universe, it's day one in the Philippines and I am excited to meet the young girls," she said in an Instagram story shared on the Miss Universe official page. Harnaaz was also given the opportunity to talk about her advocacy for menstrual equity, the initiative she launched during her homecoming celebration in India last month. The 22-year-old met with youth leaders from Plan International Philippines on Monday, April 25 to share her journey towards ending period poverty and where she also learned about their experience as change-makers in society. Following her visit to the Philippines, the beauty queen is also expected to travel

Miss Universe 2021 Harnaaz Sandhu was awarded Global Millennial of the Year at Grazia Millennial Awards 2022 on Thursday, March 31 in Mumbai. The 22-year-old Indian beauty queen received the award looking gorgeous in a metallic one-shoulder gown by Gaurav Gupta. "I just won Grazia's award and it's out of this world. It is something that's very close to my heart and I got to speak in front of incredible artists who have been inspiring me throughout my journey," she said in an interview shortly after winning the award. "It was really nice to share the stage with them and share my words," she added. Harnaaz is currently back in India for her official homecoming celebration across her country after winning the 70th Miss Universe title last December. Photos: Keegan Crasto / Miss Universe

Miss Universe 2021 Harnaaz Sandhu of India has returned home for her official homecoming celebrations across her country. Prior to her arrival, the reigning queen shared a series of videos talking about her culture, fashion, humanitarian issues, and more, and where the Miss Universe Organization has defended her from the negative comments on social media about her weight. The Miss Universe pageant and the people behind the prestigious competition continue to stand as an inclusive organization that celebrates all women from different cultures and backgrounds. In a comment on its official page, MUO wrote: "The Miss Universe Organization does not tolerate bullying of any kind. We are a community built to champion, encourage and uplift one another. There is no room for hate here. #StopBullying" Harnaaz has been busy all week traveling to various destinations in India for her nationwide homecoming celebrations. One of the highlights of her trip was the launching of an initiative t

Miss Universe 2021 Harnaaz Sandhu was spotted attending the special screening of the film "Cyrano" at SVA Theater on Wednesday, February 23 in New York City. The Indian beauty shared a few behind-the-scenes on social media and wrote in the caption: "Such an incredible movie! Totally loved every bit of it! Thank you so much for having me. Congratulations to the whole team of [Cyrano Movie, Peter Dinklage, Kelvin Harrison Jr., Haley Bennett]." Wearing an outfit by Ramy Brook, Harnaaz also appeared in an Instagram story posing with the USA's first-ever Miss Earth Lindsey Marie Coffey who was also present at the screening. "Cyrano" is scheduled for a wide theatrical release in the United States and the United Kingdom this Friday, February 25. The romantic musical film directed by Joe Wright was based on Erica Schmidt's stage adaptation of Edmond Rostand's play "Cyrano de Bergerac" in 1987. Game Of Thrones star Peter Dinklage plays the tit

Reigning Miss Universe Harnaaz Sandhu was spotted taking the New York streets by storm while wearing a stylish ensemble at New York Fashion Week. The 22-year-old beauty from India donned an orange satin mini dress from the Fall 2021 collection of a New York-based Indian fashion and costume designer Bibhu Mohapatra. Harnaaz also paired the dress with an Alexandra coat in chocolat from Maison Atia AW22 collection. The coat with a sleek shape and statement shoulders is a mix of faux broadtail and faux fox using sustainably sourced materials, all hand-sewn in NYC. The ensemble styled by Emma Pritchard was accessorized with earrings by Ben-Amun and completed with sunglasses by Banbé Eyewear, and shoes by Steve Madden. In an Instagram post, the queen shared her photos with a caption: "Don’t let others tell you what you can’t do. Don't let the limitations of others limit your vision. If you can remove your self-doubt and believe in yourself, you can achieve what you never thought po

Miss Universe shared a photo of the reigning queen Harnaaz Sandhu with the caption "Happy Republic Day" for her country's celebration of its 73rd Republic Day, the day India became a sovereign republic. In the photo, the 21-year-old beauty queen raises her country's flag while wearing an orange knit ensemble by clothing brand Andreeva. Republic Day is a national holiday in India when the country marks and celebrates the date on which the Constitution of India came into effect on 26 January 1950, replacing the Government of India Act (1935) as the governing document of India and thus, turning the nation into a newly formed republic. The day also marks the transition of India from an autonomous Commonwealth realm with British Monarch as nominal head of the Indian Dominion, to a fully sovereign republic in the Commonwealth of Nations with the President of India as the nominal head of the Indian Union. To all our Indian friends, supporters, and followers across the world,

Former Miss World Priyanka Chopra took to social media to announce that she has welcomed her first child with her husband. The Indian beauty shared: "We are overjoyed to confirm that we have welcomed a baby via surrogate. We respectfully ask for privacy during this special time as we focus on our family." Her post received an outpouring amount of congratulatory messages like one from her fellow Femina Miss India and Miss Universe 2000 winner, Lara Dutta. Priyanka was crowned Miss World 2000 at the age of 18 before becoming a famous actress in both Bollywood and Hollywood. She married American singer and actor Nick Jonas in December of 2018. Last year, she published her memoir "Unfinished", which reached The New York Times Best Seller list. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Priyanka (@priyankachopra) Source: Priyanka Chopra / Instagram

Fadil Berisha, an Albanian-American photographer based in New York, shared a sneak peek of his photo session with the reigning Miss Universe Harnaaz Sandhu. In a video he shared on social media, the beauty queen can be seen wearing a traditional Indian garment "sari" and the Mouawad "Power of Unity" crown. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Fadil Berisha Photography (@fadilberishaphotography)

India's very own Miss Universe 2021 Harnaaz Sandhu has visited the Empire State Building in New York City on Wednesday, January 12. It has been a tradition for a reigning Miss Universe to visit the 102-story Art Deco skyscraper designed by Shreve, Lamb & Harmon in Midtown Manhattan. Harnaaz, who won the 70th Miss Universe pageant in December of last year, also kicked off her media tour this week since arriving in her NYC apartment early this month. Photos: Dimitrios Kambouris / Getty Images North America

Three weeks after her coronation at the 70th Miss Universe competition in Israel, India's Harnaaz Kaur Sandhu has finally arrived at her apartment in New York. The 21-year-old beauty went back to her home country and stayed there for three weeks following her victory. She will now be based in the "Big Apple" during her reign as Miss Universe 2021. Here's a short arrival video at her "newly designed" apartment in NYC courtesy of the Miss Universe Organization: Photo: Harnaaz Kaur Sandhu / Instagram

India's third Miss Universe titleholder Harnaaz Sandhu has arrived back in her home country after winning the prestigious 70th Miss Universe pageant in Israel on Sunday. The 21-year-old wore a red shimmery silhouette dress by Bhawna Rao during her arrival in Mumbai. Excited fans and members of the media flocked to the airport to see their newly crowned queen. A grand welcome celebration is being planned by the Miss Diva organization for the new Miss Universe after she completes her 7-day quarantine period. After her visit to India, Harnaaz is expected to fly to the United States where she will be based in New York during her reign as Miss Universe 2021. India waited 21 years since Lara Duta won Miss Universe 2000 to bring the coveted crown back again to the country. Photos: Miss Diva

The 70th Miss Universe winner Harnaaz Sandhu of India wore a custom EyeCandy by Pinky & Sheshankon hot-pink blazer dress on the first day of her reign. Harnaaz shared a photo of herself with a short caption "first interview day as Miss Universe 2021" on her official social media account that gained over a million followers overnight. The 21-year-old beauty achieved India's third Miss Universe victory on Sunday in Israel, 21 years after Lara Dutta won Miss Universe 2000 in Cyprus. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Miss Universe (@missuniverse) Source: Harnaaz Sandhu, Miss Universe / Instagram

India's Harnaaz Sandhu won her country's third Miss Universe crown during the final competition of the 70th Miss Universe pageant held on Sunday, December 12 in Eilat, Israel. The 21-year-old Bollywood actress succeeds Andrea Meza of Mexico and will now move to New York City where she will live during her reign and become a spokesperson for various causes alongside the Miss Universe Organization. Former Miss Universe winners from India are Sushmita Sen (Miss Universe 1994) and Lara Dutta (Miss Universe 2000). Photos: Benjamin Askinas / Miss Universe Organization

India's Harnaaz Sandhu topped a field of some 80 contestants to be crowned the 70th Miss Universe on Sunday, December 12 at the Universe Dome in Eilat, Israel. The 21-year-old model and actress became the third Indian representative to win the coveted Miss Universe title. She succeeds Miss Universe 2020 Andrea Meza of Mexico. Nadia Ferreira of Paraguay and Lalela Mswane of South Africa were the first and second runners-up, respectively, while Valeria Ayos of Colombia and Beatrice Gomez of the Philippines completed the Top 5 finalists. Completing the Top 10 were the contestants from Aruba, Thessaly Zimmerman, France, Clémence Botino, Puerto Rico, Michelle Colón, The Bahamas, Chantel O'Brian, and the USA, Elle Smith. The contestants from Great Britain, Emma Collingridge, Japan, Juri Watanabe, Panama, Brenda Smith, Singapore, Nandita Banna, Venezuela, Luiseth Materán, and Vietnam, Nguyen Huynh Kim Duyen were the rest of the Top 16 semi-finalists. The new Miss Universe is a strong