Miss India Harnaaz Sandhu has been crowned Miss Universe 2021 in Israel city of Eilat on Sunday night. This was the 70th edition of the annual pageant and faced several complications due to the coronavirus pandemic as well as severe pressure and calls for boycott in support of the Palestinians.
The previously reigning Miss Universe Andrea Meza of Mexico crowned the 21-year-old Miss India Harnaaz Sandhu in the Red Sea resort with Miss Paraguay Nadia Farreira named runner-up, while Miss South Africa Lalela Mswane took the next spot as second runner-up.
The contestants had gone through a number of categories in the Miss Universe 2021 pageant, including display of national costumes, swimwear, and demonstration of public speaking skills.
Miss India Harnaaz Sandhu was crowned Miss Universe 2021, while the final 10 contestants were given gold, silver and bronze gowns, leaving viewers awe-struck.
It is pertinent to mention that the Miss Universe 2021 pageant was boycotted by many contestants this year to condemn Israel’s misconduct of the Palestinians. The South Africa’s Ministry of Sports, Culture and Arts had also urged its contestants to stay away from Eilat, citing “atrocities committed by the Israel against Palestinians.”
Meanwhile, several Palestinian Groups pleaded the contestants to avoid the event and the Palestinian Campaign for the Academic and Cultural Boycott of Israel wrote, “We urge all participants to withdraw, to avoid complicity in Israel’s apartheid regime and its violation of Palestinian human rights.”
The 80 contestants in the Miss Universe 2021 pageant also included Miss Morocco Kawtar Benhalima and Miss Bahrain Manar Nadeem Deyani, whose majority Muslim nations normalized ties with Israel last year.
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