70th Miss Universe is Harnaaz Sandhu of India


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 advocate for women's empowerment, particularly their constitutional rights to education, careers, and freedom of choice.

Harnaaz draws inspiration from her mother, who broke generations of patriarchy to become a successful gynecologist and led her family. Driven to support other women the same way, she grew up working with her mother at health camps addressing women's health and menstrual hygiene.

The Indian beauty will now go to New York where she will be based throughout the duration of her reign. She will travel the world and campaign for social causes supported by the Miss Universe Organization.

Apart from wearing the power of unity crown by Mouawad, Harnaaz will also receive sponsored prizes and will be provided a salary while reigning as Miss Universe.



Photos: Tracy Nguyen, Benjamin Askinas / Miss Universe Organization

Popular posts from this blog

Miss World Somalia 2025 is Zainab Jama

Image
Zainab Jama, 23, has been officially announced to represent Somalia at the 72nd Miss World competition in Hyderabad, India this May. The new Miss World Somalia holds a degree in aviation and airport management and is passionate about global opportunities and cultural exchange. As the founder of the Female Initiative Foundation, she is a dedicated activist against Female Genital Mutilation (FGM), using her platform to protect and empower young girls. Beyond advocacy, Zainab enjoys football, modeling, and poetry. No stranger to pageantry, she has previously joined the Miss Global 2023 pageant in Vietnam where she made the Top 13. "I am beyond honored, humbled, and emotional to officially announce that I have been crowned Miss World Somalia 2025 and will be representing my beautiful country on the Miss World stage," she wrote online. "This moment is more than just a title—it is a testament to hard work, sacrifice, and unwavering faith. The journey to this crown was not easy...
Read more

Miss World Thailand 2025 is Opal Suchata Chuangsri

Image
Opal Suchata Chuangsri was officially proclaimed Miss World Thailand 2025 in a special press presentation held on Tuesday, April 22 in Bangkok. The 22-year-old political science major at Thammasat University will represent Thailand at Miss World 2025 in Hyderabad ( Telangana), India this May. No stranger to pageantry, Opal was previously crowned Miss Universe Thailand and went to Miss Universe 2024 in Mexico where she finished as the third runner-up. "I am deeply honored to be standing here as your new Miss World Thailand. Carrying not only the crown and the sash, i carry with me the hopes and the spirit of my people, my nation," she said during her speech. The new Miss World Thailand initiated the project "Opal for Her" to support underprivileged and unfortunate women suffering with breast cancer. Road to the 72nd Miss World: View this post on Instagram A post shared by TPN GLOBAL (@tpn.global) Photos: TPN GLOBAL / Instagram
Read more

Miss Universe Zambia 2025 is Kunda Mwamulima

Image
Kunda Mwamulima was crowned Miss Universe Zambia 2025 on Saturday, April 20 at the Mulungushi International Conference Centre (MICC) in Lusaka. The 29-year-old registered nurse and model will now prepare to represent Zambia at the Miss Universe 2025 pageant in Thailand this November. No stranger to pageantry, Kunda is a former Miss Earth Zambia titleholder who competed in Miss Earth 2023 in Vietnam. She also joined the Top Model of the World competition in Egypt and made the Top 16. Apart from the new Miss Universe Zambia, 24-year-old Faith Bwalya clinched the title of Miss World Zambia 2025 and will head to the 72nd Miss World in India this coming May. Namakau Nawa and Anna Musonda were both crowned as Zambia's representatives for Miss Supranational 2025 and Miss Grand International 2025, respectively. Road to the 74th Miss Universe: View this post on Instagram A post shared by Kunda Mwamulima (@mwamulimakunda) Photos: Kunda Mwamulima / Instagram
Read more

Señorita Panama org appoints Mirna Caballini for Miss Universe 2025

Image
Mirna Alejandra Caballini Bouche has been revealed by the Señorita Panama organization as official representative of Panama for Miss Universe 2025. The 22-year-old professional model, singer, theater actress and fashion designer will head to Thailand to compete in the 74th Miss Universe pageant this November. No stranger to pageantry, Mirna previously represented Chiriquí at the Miss Universe Panama 2024 competition and finished as the second runner-up. The new Miss Universe Panama speaks Spanish, English and currently studies Italian. She is the CEO of MCaballini Productions, a company dedicated to the production of children's works. According to Señorita Panama, the winner of Miss Universe Panama 2025 this October will represent the country at the Miss Universe 2026 pageant. Meet the newly appointed Miss Universe Panama: View this post on Instagram A post shared by Douglas Díaz | Fotógrafo (@douglasdiazphoto) Photos: Señorita Panama, Douglas Díaz / Instagram
Read more

Buenos Aires' Camila Barraza crowned Miss Supranational Argentina 2025

Image
Camila Barraza was crowned Miss Supranational Argentina 2025 in a national competition held on Thursday, April 17 at the Palacio Alsina in Buenos Aires. The 31-year-old model beat 11 other contestants to win the title. She will now prepare to represent Argentina at Miss Supranational 2025 in Poland this June. Lourdes Flores Sanchez of La Rioja and Micaela Drska of Salta were named the first and second runners-up, respectively. Reigning Miss Supranational Harashta Haifa Zahra of Indonesia visited the South American country to grace the glittering pageant. Meet the new Miss Supranational Argentina: View this post on Instagram A post shared by Miss Supranational Argentina (@misssupranationalargentina) Photos: Miss Supranational Argentina / Instagram
Read more

Miss Universe Croatia 2025 is Laura Gnjatović from Zadar

Image
Laura Gnjatović beat 13 other contestants to win Miss Universe Croatia 2025 on Monday, April 28 at Esplanade Hotel in Zagreb. The 23-year-old nursing student from Zadar was crowned by her predecessor, last year's winner Zrinka Ćorić. She will now prepare to represent Croatia at Miss Universe 2025 in Thailand this November. Lea Turkalj from Vukovar was named first runner-up while Dolores Kraševac from Kamanje, Ana Čulina from Svinjarevci and Rafaela Bartulović from Bjelovar were the second, third and fourth runners-up, respectively. Road to the 74th Miss Universe: View this post on Instagram A post shared by Miss Universe Croatia Org (@missuniversecroatiaorg) Photos: Miss Universe Croatia / Instagram
Read more

Sofie Ørn Andersen to represent Denmark at Miss Supranational 2025

Image
Sofie Ørn Andersen was officially proclaimed Miss Supranational Denmark 2025 in a special ceremony recently held at the Odd Fellow Palace in Copenhagen. The 24-year-old registered nurse, specializing in cardiology, from Hillerød will represent Denmark at Miss Supranational 2025 in Poland this June. She received the crown from her predecessor Victoria Larsen who made the Top 12 at Miss Supranational 2024 and clinched the continental title of Miss Supranational Europe. The newly appointed Miss Supranational Denmark finished as the second runner-up at the Miss Denmark 2024 competition at Cirkusbygningen last September. Sofie actively supports charitable causes, using her nursing perspective to advocate for a stronger healthcare system and ensure that all families have access to essential necessities. Through her initiative From the Ground up and her work with the organization Mødrehjælpen, she hopes to inspire positive change and contribute to a world where care, compassion, and...
Read more

Plus-sized Sara Milliken crowned Miss Alabama for National American Miss 2024

Image
Plus-sized beauty Sara Milliken was crowned the National American Miss Alabama 2024 during the state final held on May 27 at the Renaissance Marriot in Montgomery. The 23-year-old model and mental health advocate from Atmore, Alabama is now expected to represent her home state at the National American Miss 2024 competition later this year. "This is a dream that has been 8 years in the making for me," said the new National American Miss Alabama who first joined the state pageant when she was 15 years old. After enduring bullying upon her return at the age of 16, she decided to take a break from joining for 7 years. However, this year, she mustered up the courage to give the crown another shot. "I returned to the NAM stage to prove to myself I didn't give up. I could do this. I was more than the mean things that was said to me," Sara wrote online. "I was authentically myself. I had fun. I had the most genuine smile on my face. I wasn't perfect." In r...
Read more

Miss Alabama USA 2024 is Diane Westhoven

Image
Miss Southern Plains, Diane Westhoven was crowned Miss Alabama USA 2024 during the state final on Saturday, June 1 at Auburn University's Jay and Susie Gogue Performing Arts Center. The 21-year-old student from Birmingham will now prepare to represent Alabama at Miss USA 2024 this summer in Hollywood, California. She succeeds Sophie Burzynski, last year's winner and Miss USA 2023 Top 20 semifinalist. Diane is currently studying psychology at Auburn University with the goal of empowering others to feel confident in their physical and emotional well-being. View this post on Instagram A post shared by RPM Productions, Inc (@rpmproductions) FINAL RESULTS Miss Alabama USA 2024 - Diane Westhoven (Southern Plains) 1st runner-up - Ashlyn Powers (Fairhope) 2nd runner-up - Allyssa Weyant (Lake Jordan) 3rd runner-up - Olivia Burchfield (Magic City) 4th runner-up - Halle Sullivan (Northport) TOP 10 Maleigha Lewis (Enterprise) Melody Mills (Bailey Cove) Margaret Anne Mc...
Read more

Philippines' Alexie Caimoso Brooks crowned Miss Eco International 2025

Image
Alexie Caimoso Brooks from the Philippines was crowned Miss Eco International 2025 on Saturday, April 19 at the Hilton Alexandria Green Plaza in Egypt. The 24-year-old athlete and model from the province of Iloilo became the third Filipina to win the international pageant next to Cynthia Thomalla (2018) and Kathleen Paton (2022). Yulinar Fitrani of Indonesia was named first runner-up while Yelyzaveta Adamska of Ukraine, Cynthia Murillo of the USA, and Victoria Repollo Inglis of the United Kingdom finished second, third, and fourth runners-up, respectively. The new Miss Eco International bested over 30 other contestants to succeed last year's winner Angelina Usanova from Ukraine. She also bagged the Best in National Costume award. "Heartfelt thank you to everyone who supported, helped, and believed in me. Lahat kayo, buong-buo ang puso ko sa pasasalamat. Salamat," she wrote online. No stranger to pageantry, Alexie was previously crowned Miss Iloilo and joined Miss Un...
Read more