The Woman Who Brought Home The Crown After 21 Years
December 12, 2021, was a historic day for Indians. “We did it, India did it,” the words made headlines in every Indian newspaper. Our social media feeds were buzzing with clips and pictures from the 70th Miss Universe beauty pageant. Chandigarh-based Harnaaz Kaur Sandhu had clinched the Miss Universe 2021 crown–after a hiatus of 21 long years. Sandhu became the only third Indian woman to win the Miss Universe title after Sushmita Sen and Lara Dutta in the pageant’s 70-year-long history. By embracing her roots and unabashedly being her true self on the Miss Universe stage, she has emerged as a role model. It was her answer at the global stage that set a resounding example—“To know that you’re unique and that’s what makes you beautiful. Stop comparing yourselves with others and let’s talk about more important things that are happening worldwide. I think this is what you need to understand. Come out, speak for yourself because you are the leader of your life, you are the voice of your own. I believed in myself and that’s why I’m standing here today.” In a world full of filters and picture-perfect social media feeds, she has shown us how authenticity will always trump it all.
Power Move
December 12, 2021, was a mundane Monday until news of Sandhu winning the Miss Universe crown came out. She achieved the feat at Universe Dome in Eilat, Israel by beating Paraguay’s Nadia Ferreira for the first spot. Andrea Meza of Mexico crowned Sandhu as her successor and registered India’s first victory in the competition after two long decades. Sandhu’s unwavering focus is as big a power move as her crown win. She is a reminder that you are your own hero and no one is going to believe in you until you believe in yourself.
The POPxo Power Women List is an annual list that celebrates incredible Indian women from diverse domains who make power moves that have a real impact. With The POPxo Power Women List 2022, we celebrate 22 phenomenal women. To see the entire list, click here.
