As the newly topped Miss Universe 2021, Punjab’s Harnaaz Sandhu says she needs to nurture an setting the place fellow ladies really feel snug about expressing their issues concerning well being and hygiene.
The 21-year-old, who has already starred in a number of Punjabi movies, together with Yaara Diyan Poo Baran and Bai Ji Kuttange each 2021 releases, can also be wanting ahead to creating a distinct segment for herself not simply in Hindi cinema but in addition Hollywood.
On Monday, Sandhu grew to become the third Indian to be topped Miss Universe — actors Sushmita Sen and Lara Dutta gained the title in 1994 and 2000, respectively.
It’s an enormous celebration for the entire nation as a result of an Indian has acquired an opportunity to put on this crown after 21 years, Harnaaz Sandhu stated.
“I feel so grateful and my heart is filled with so much respect for all those who have shown their faith in me and showered me with all their love. I want to use this platform to talk about the issues which we should all be concerned about,” the pageant winner instructed PTI in a telephonic interview from Eilat, Israel, the place the seventieth version of the occasion was held.
Next cease for Sandhu is the New York City, her residence for now from the place she’s going to discharge her duties as a spokesperson for varied causes alongside the Miss Universe Organisation.
Her mom and gynaecologist Ravinder Kaur Sandhu has been an inspiration for Sandhu, who needs to prepared the ground for girls empowerment with particular concentrate on menstrual hygiene and breast most cancers consciousness.
“My advocacy is all about ladies empowerment with menstrual hygiene, my mother being a gynaecologist. Women ought to discuss their well being. In my group, ladies nonetheless really feel uncomfortable speaking about their physique and something that’s to do with their well being.
“This is what I’ve been majorly working on along with different organisations regarding breast cancer surgery and the fact that it’s curable when detected well in time. I’ll also talk about all those issues that the Miss Universe organisation is related to. I’d like to talk about the causes with the help of my mother,” she added.
Sandhu, who’s pursuing her grasp’s diploma in public administration and began modelling when she was 17, additionally talked about how magnificence pageants are attempting to maintain up with the instances.
She began her ramp journey early, profitable the Times Fresh Face in 2017, representing Chandigarh on the age of 17. She later gained the LIVA Miss Diva Universe 2021 title.
Events like Miss Universe are present process change, she stated, including that they’re serving to folks embrace “the real meaning of beauty”.
“After my win, in my community people realise that it’s not only about looking beautiful, it’s about having that persona, aura, and having the depth in your voice to speak out for what you believe in… you are the leader of your own life.. I think I’ve already broken stereotypes of what women are and can be and now I want to take this forward at large.”
Sandhu emerged victorious edging out contestants from 79 nations to deliver the title again to India after over twenty years. She was topped by her predecessor Andrea Meza of Mexico, who gained the pageant in 2020.
Her Paraguay counterpart Nadia Ferreira, 22, completed second, South Africa’s Lalela Mswane, 24, got here third.
For Sandhu, all her co-contestants are winners as they represented the folks of their nations on the worldwide stage with “enough confidence about your opinion”.
“… to have that throw in your voice that this is the difference you want to bring in your life… that’s more than enough to conquer anything in this world. You get to share your culture, country, background with every contestant. That’s a huge achievement in itself. I’m going to take a lot of things from my co-contestants because I believe we all are winners. Every girl is a Miss Universe,” she added.
While Sandhu can’t wait to return again to India and have fun this victory along with the folks, her journey plans are being labored out.
She needs to eat her favorite ‘makki di roti, sarson da saag’ very first thing, she shared.
But her win will stay considerably incomplete until she offers her mom “the tightest hug” as she would now return residence realising this dream that they had dreamt collectively.
“Months ago, we were watching the Miss Universe 2020 edition and I was telling my mom, ‘Look the way the girls are walking’. Who knew that I would be on that stage one day representing my country!” Sandhu recalled.
Her win may even generate new curiosity in her movies.
“They are very excited to have me as part of their movies and I’m looking forward to showing my talent on the big screen,” she stated.
Like former magnificence queen, Miss World 2000 Priyanka Chopra Jonas, Sandhu too goals to additional bridge the gap between Indian and worldwide cinema.
“I’d love to be a part of not just Bollywood but Hollywood too, through that I’d love to break the stereotypes. I think 21st-century people get inspired by movies and web series, so I’d like to inspire people and try to talk about the issues that should be eradicated from society.”
