‘Faith is unseen … it's felt.’ IT grad, runway queen Harnaaz Sandhu has her head on her shoulders, keeps it real

Harnaaz Sandhu was among the top trends on the Internet on Monday. The 21-year-old sashayed her way into national consciousness, standing tall at 5’9” and winning hearts.

Monday blues were quashed as a beaming Sandhu broke out into “Chak de, Patte!” on the global stage after winning the Miss Universe title Back home, Indians began a furious search: about her height, weight, diet, and of course the quintessential Indian must-know fact - her age.

There is, however, a lot more to know about the 21-year-old woman who is bringing the Miss Universe crown back to India after 21 long years.

A graduate in Information Technology, Sandhu is currently pursuing her masters in public administration. And even with a hectic life on the runway - a Miss Diva win earlier in 2021, assignments etc - she has not shied away from talking about real issues, in a real way. Growing up in Chandigarh, the lanky teenager often faced body shaming and was bullied for the way she looked. Sandhu, however, took those experiences as lessons and learned to “stand up after each fall.” During a television interview two months ago, she spoke about how she understood notions of body positivity after being relentlessly teased for being “too thin”, and hopes that young girls accept their natural size and shape.

After her Miss Universe win on Monday, Sandhu's mother revealed that she has had her eye on the Miss Universe crown ever since she was in school. A Times Fresh Face win in 2017, followed by participation in Miss Chandigarh, and Miss Punjab, bolstered her runway dreams, fuelled by abundant faith in herself.

Few hours before winning the Miss Universe title, Sandhu posted a video of her praying with the caption, "Faith is unseen. It's felt. It's the feeling I have in my heart today. I have faith in God, my family and the blessings you all have showered on me." She further added, " I'm already a winner. I have you all." And while Sandhu is not busy chasing her tinseltown dreams - she has acted in two Punjabi films, titled, ‘Yaara Diyan Poo Baran’ and ‘Bai Ji Kuttange’ - she finds solace in yoga and dancing. She loves to cook as well.

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Drawing inspiration from her mother whom she calls her lifeline, Sandhu,in her Miss Universe delegate bio, credits her mother, Ravinder Kaur, for breaking “generations of patriarchy to become a successful gynecologist and lead her family.” Her mother, who is very proud of Sandhu's victory, is gearing up to treat her daughter with 'Sarson da saag and makki ki roti' after she returns.

At her residence in Punjab celebrations are already under way to welcome her home. Her father, Pritam Singh Sandhu is elated while her brother Harnoor Singh is currently on a bragging spree and why shouldn't he? After 21 years, his 21-year-old sister is bringing home the most coveted crown in the universe.