India’s Harnaaz Sandhu poses during the finals of the 70th Miss Universe competition in Eilat, Israel on Monday, December 13, 2021.
South Africa’s Lalela Mswane, from left, India’s Harnaaz Sandhu and Paraguay’s Nadia Ferreira advance to the top 3 during the 70th Miss Universe competition on Monday, December 13, 2021 in Eilat, Israel.
Beatrice Luigi Gomez from the Philippines from left, Valeria Ayos from Colombia, Nadia Ferreira from Paraguay, Lalela Mswane from South Africa and Harnaaz Sandhu from India pose as top 5 candidates during the 70th Miss Universe competition on Monday, December 13, 2021 in Eilat, Israel.
Presenter Steve Harvey, left, speaks to Nigerian Maristella Okpala during the 70th Miss Universe competition on Monday, December 13, 2021, in Eilat, Israel.
France’s Clemence Botino will be attending the evening wear of the 70th Miss Universe competition on Monday, December 13, 2021 in Eilat, Israel.
Valeria Ayos of Columbia participates in the evening wear of the 70th Miss Universe competition on Monday, December 13, 2021 in Eilat, Israel.
Filipino Beatrice Luigi Gomez will take part in the evening wear of the 70th Miss Universe competition on Monday, December 13, 2021, in Eilat, Israel.
Israeli Noa Cochva will take part in the 70th Miss Universe competition on Monday, December 13, 2021, in Eilat, Israel.
South Africa’s Lalela Mswane (left) and India’s Harnaaz Sandhu move into the top 3 during the 70th Miss Universe competition on Monday, December 13, 2021 in Eilat, Israel.
Presenter Steve Harvey speaks during the 70th Miss Universe competition in Eilat, Israel on Monday, December 13, 2021.
Presenter Steve Harvey, left, appears with Miss Universe 2020, Andrea Meza, during the 70th Miss Universe competition on Monday, December 13, 2021, in Eilat, Israel.
South African Lalela Mswane poses during the finals of the 70th Miss Universe competition on Monday, December 13, 2021, in Eilat, Israel.
Indian woman Harnaaz Sandhu smiles as she participates in the national costume portion of the Miss Universe contest on Friday, December 10, 2021, in Eilat, Israel.
The Indian Harnaaz Sandhu will take part in the swimsuit phase of the 70th Miss Universe competition in Eilat, Israel on Monday, December 13, 2021.
Harnaaz Sandhu of India performs as she competes in the national costume portion of the Miss Universe contest on Friday, December 10, 2021, in Eilat, Israel.
India’s Harnaaz Sandhu waves after being crowned Miss Universe 2021 during the 70th Miss Universe competition on Monday, December 13, 2021 in Eilat, Israel.
Miss Universe 2020 Andrea Meza, right, crowns India’s Harnaaz Sandhu during the 70th Miss Universe competition for Miss Universe 2021 on Monday, December 13, 2021, in Eilat, Israel.
Harnaaz Sandhu from India will be announced as the new Miss Universe 2021 during the 70th Miss Universe competition on Monday, December 13, 2021 in Eilat, Israel.
Frenchwoman Clemence Botino smiles as she participates in the national costume portion of the Miss Universe contest on Friday, December 10, 2021, in Eilat, Israel.
By ARIEL SCHALIT – Associated Press
EILAT, Israel (AP) – Harnaaz Sandhu from India turned 70 on Sunday.
The previously reigning Miss Universe, Andrea Meza from Mexico, crowned her successor, a Bollywood actress, in the Israeli resort of Eilat on the Red Sea. The pageant took place in the middle of the night and ended at 5:00 a.m. local time (10:00 p.m. EST) to keep up with the prime-time schedule in the US
The pageant included traditional displays of national costumes, swimwear and a series of interview questions to test participants’ skills in public. The top 10 featured lavishly dazzled full-length dresses in either gold, silver, or bronze. Filipino Beatrice Luigi Gomez wore an asymmetrical one-sleeve dress that highlighted a new tattoo that she said “celebrates her femininity”.
But the competition has also attracted attention in recent weeks for other reasons.
A Palestinian-led boycott had asked attendees to skip the event to protest Israel’s treatment of the Palestinians.
