Exclusive: Miss Universe Harnaaz Sandhu REVEALS why she hid her first beauty pageant registration from her dad

21 years after Lara Dutta won the Miss Universe crown for India, Punjab's Harnaaz Sandhu made the country proud yet again by winning the title and bringing back the crown. We recently spoke to Harnaaz about her Miss Universe journey and more. 

Here are some experts:  

Q. You are only the third Indian woman in the history to have won the Miss Universe crown. How would you describe your journey? 

A. I think the three words that describe my journey are gratitude, original and always being focused. And throughout my journey I have always been talking about these three things, believing that, manifesting that and that made me win. 

Q. In one’s journey there are supporters and opposers. Who has been your biggest support? Also, is there any kind of opposition you faced in your journey?

A. I think everyone who either uplifts you or suppresses you through their comments or anything, they all are supporters according to me, because all are taking out their valuable time, and showcasing their advices or just commenting about something they believe in. And everybody has the right to say what they believe in. And its just upon me how I want to take those comments and I have the ability to have a positive outlook towards difficult circumstances or maybe comments. And I know what to ignore and what to focus on. My family, my friends and the whole Miss Diva organisation has been so kind, so respectful, and always made me feel stronger and I think that is what really means to me at the end of the day.

Q. We’ve heard that when you registered for your first pageant you did not tell your dad until after you won the crown! why so?

A. That's very true. Because my father comes from a different background, my mom comes from a different background. My father is the son of a farmer so its a little difficult for me to make him understand the fashion and the film industry. But once you succeed in something, you realise that this is the time to break the generation gap and that was due to my mom's support because she has always believed in my strengths and made me push towards what I want to do in my life. And it was difficult for me to make sure that my father understands this all, but it was not impossible. Finally, when he realised that I love doing this and I am doing great work, he called me 'Punjab's Sherni'. And since then when I was crowned during my national pageant, he started calling me 'India's Sherni'. Now, I think he will call me 'Universe's Sherni', I will ask him that again. But the time he came to know about this, he supported me like anything and I was not expecting that. On that day, I realised its the generation gap which we think that our parents won't understand but its the way you need to make them realise that this is what I want to do in my life and to build that faith. And specially, the youth who are watching this, I want to tell you guys that always have the support of your family. My family supported me and that's why I am here. That really brings a lot of strength in me when I talk about that.
 

 

 

 

 

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A post shared by Harnaaz Kaur Sandhu (@harnaazsandhu_03)

Q. You proudly exclaimed India at all stages of the pageant and of course the very passionate 'chak de fatte' after your win, that video went viral..How important is it to be rooted in your culture, heritage and show we are proud of our origin while keeping our individual identity intact? 

A. Authenticity is extremely important and throughout the pageant Miss Universe looks for that. They look for a girl who is a great speaker, who knows what she believes in, what she wants to do in life, how she takes situations in her life. She is focused, she is steadfast to serve the community, to serve the globe. I have got this from my community. We have always been serving and it has added in my values. That 'chak de fatte', doing gidda and bhangra with all the co-contestants at Miss Universe was something which is me. It just comes wherever I go, I make sure that I leave Punjab and India's touch wherever I go. And it happens automatically because we are doing a lot of great things all around the world and it was my time to make the most out of it. Leave some Indian touch wherever I go.

Q. Pageant host, Steve, asked you to impression a cat during top 16 round and you nailed it like a boss. But many pointed out that the question was unfit for the stage… what are your thoughts?

A. I don't think so it was unfit. This is what I want to break and I think through my answer, I was able to break the stigma regarding that beauty pageant is not about being perfect, beauty pageant is not about being beautiful only. Its about being yourself on the stage, having that confidence. In the starting, I was myself shocked that what is he asking, how can I do that but then I realised that I am standing next to one of the spontaneous and one of my favourite famous personalities. And if he can be himself on stage and he is just making everyone entertain, then why can't I entertain people and showcase my talent of acting on such big stage. After that, it felt so comfortable. I think people realised that one can even do mimicry on such a big stage. All you need is confidence for the same. At the end of the day, we are not there to impress someone, we are there because of our belief. I have that belief in me and I also believe that the entire world is with me.
 

 

 

 

 

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A post shared by Harnaaz Kaur Sandhu (@harnaazsandhu_03)

Q. In top 3, you said that everyone should believe in themselves. But, in this day and age where social media is all about putting the best pictures, photoshopped pictures of your self and pretending all is well in life and the world… it’s easy to be lost as an individual… how does one then believe in themselves? 

A. I believe that an individual comes to this world on their own and they will go on their own as well. Whatever surrounds you is all temporary. You need to have a balance in your life and that comes when you are balanced with your mind, body and soul. When you spend more time with your own self, you realise that there is so much to achieve in life. That belief will come from within you only. I can only tell you my experiences, but at the end of the day if you really want to do something, you have to start by your own. That comes within you. Social media for me is always a medium through which I am trying my best to uplift people. I tell everyone that I am there on social media to inspire others. Whoever follows me on social media, they should get inspired from my one story, my one post or anything I put. 

Q. But what about the trolls?

A. We live in a democratic country, everyone has the right to freedom of speech and expression. But if somebody is trolling you, you should understand that how much hard work you have put in to be there. You know the effort you have put in to be there. That's their opinion, their insecurities that they are saying such things about you. At the end of the day, you need to make sure to know that there is a difference between to ignore and to learn what you want to do. When I was being trolled....like everybody gets trolled, its normal to be trolled I feel...I used to ignore and I used to take the advices that if they think like that, its fine. If its getting in your head, then you need to consult because we have all the cybercrimes. But my only appeal to everyone would be, who is using social media, please use it in limit. Realise the fact that it plays a very sensitive role in our lives because we live under a blackhole of technology. Make sure that you use it to uplift people rather than suppressing them. 

 

 

 

 

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A post shared by Harnaaz Kaur Sandhu (@harnaazsandhu_03)

Q. You have Bollywood aspirations. But which actor do you look upto in the film industry? 
 
A. Priyanka Chopra has been one of my favourite inspirational actors. The way she has created her own brand, the way she has left everything out and she is always focused. She has been working so hard and her attitude has always remain the same. So, that really makes me feel that if she can go places with her hard work, so even I must work hard and inspire other girls because she has inspired me. And now, its my time to inspire others too.