Miss Universe 2000 Lara Dutta lauds Harnaaz Sandhu for winning India's third crown

Miss Universe 2000 Lara  Dutta applauded Harnaaz Sandhu for winning India's third crown in the pageant!

On Twitter, Lara congratulated Harnaaz for bringing the title to their country after 21 years.

"Welcome to the club! We've waited 21 long years for this! You make us so so proud! A billion dreams come true!" she said.

Lara is the second Miss Universe from India. The first Indian winner is Sushmita Sen, who captured the crown when the pageant was held in the Philippines in 1994.

Congratulations @HarnaazSandhu03 !!!! Welcome to the club!!! We’ve waited 21 long years for this!!! You make us SO SO proud!!! A billion dreams come true!!! @MissDivaOrg @MissUniverse

— Lara Dutta Bhupathi (@LaraDutta) December 13, 2021

Harnaaz looked regal in her official portrait as Miss Universe 2021. She bested 80 other candidates in the pageant held in Eliat, Israel on Monday (Philippine time).

During the final question, all the finalists were asked for advice they would give to young women on how to deal with the pressures they are facing today.

Here's her winning answer:

"Well I think the biggest pressure the youth of today is facing is to believe in themselves to know that you are unique and that’s what makes you beautiful. Stop comparing yourselves with others and let’s talk about more important things happening worldwide. Come out and 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."

Meanwhile, Miss Universe Philippines Beatrice Luigi Gomez landed on the Top 5.

—MGP, GMA News