‘Harnaaz means everyone’s pride, she proved that today’

Harnaaz did her schooling from Shivalik Public School before graduating from govt college Sector 42. She is now pursuing masters in public admin from PU

Family members of Miss Universe Harnaaz Sandhu celebrate her victory in Kharar on Monday. Photo: Jasbir Malhi

“We named her Harnaaz as she is the first and the last daughter in our extended Jat Sikh family. She has 17 brothers in the extended family. Today she has made the entire country proud,” said elated Dr Rabinder Kaur, mother of Harnaaz Sandhu who brought laurels by clinching the Miss Universe title after 21 years.

Sandhu on Monday won the Miss Universe 2021 pageant, beating contestants from 79 countries to bring the title back to India after 21 years. Only two Indians before Sandhu, just 21 and an actor as well as a model, have been crowned Miss Universe earlier — actors Sushmita Sen in 1994 and Lara Dutta in 2000.
The 70th edition of the event was held in Israel’s resort town of Eilat. Sandhu will now move to New York City where she will live during her ‘reign’ and become a spokesperson for various causes alongside the Miss Universe Organisation.

During the final question and answer round, Sandhu was asked what advice she would give young women on how to deal with the pressure they face today.

“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 that’s happening worldwide. “This is what you need to understand. Come out, speak for yourselves because you are the leader of your life, you are the voice of your own. I believed in myself and that’s why I am standing here,” she said to thundering applause.

Sandhu’s family resides in Shivalik City at Kharar, Sector 125.

Candy to her mother and elder brother, Harnaaz is sherni to her father. “I got jittery when she made it to top 16 and then to top five. Candy has made us proud,” said brother Harnoor. “There is a gap of seven years between us.”

“Punjab di sherni has today become Bharat di sherni,” said proud father P S Sandhu, a realtor.

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Dr Kaur, a gynaecologist at Sohana hospital, said: “Last evening, I had a very short conversation with her. She told me ‘Mamma Wahe Guru ji di ardaas karna’. This morning I was in the gurdwara praying for her.”

Harnaaz’s brother Harnoor, mother Ravinder Kaur and father Pritam Singh Sandhu photographed at their residence in Kharar. (Express photo by Jasbir Malhi)

“We had named her Harnaaz which means everyone’s pride. Today she has proved that,” Dr Kaur said. “All her cousins from her father’s side are male.”

Now something special awaits Harnaaz back home. “It is such a proud moment. I can’t even express my feelings. She knew from her school days that she has to clinch this title. I would treat her to makki ki roti and sarson ka saag when she comes home. It doesn’t increase calories too,” said Dr Kaur as she got clicked with her daughter’s pictures.

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Photos from Harnaaz’s childhood days. (Express photo by Jasbir Malhi)

The family originally hails from Batala in Punjab.

“We never forced our children. We told her she can aim for whatever she feels she is best in. Rather we had initially not told her father and were apprehensive about his reaction when she went to participate in the first beauty pageant but he was very supportive. He had told her tu meri sherni aa, sherni waanghu gurrah de (your are my lioness, roar like a lioness),” said Dr Kaur.

The family said Harnaaz is an all-rounder as she is really good in cooking and mimicry. Harnaaz, who started modelling at a young age, gradually made her way to beauty pageants and won her first pageant — Miss Chandigarh 2017. “Candy always said that she wanted to do something different. She won Miss Chandigarh, Miss Punjab and then it went on,” Harnoor said.

D S Bedi, principal of Shivalik Public School, Mohali, said: “She was a simple and bright student. She always remained determined.”

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The mood was cheerful in Harnaaz’s college as well. “It is indeed a proud moment for the institution. It is her relentless efforts, dedication, zeal, education and values she acquired over the years that saw her through the tough challenge and she has made the entire country proud,” said Principal Nisha Aggarwal.

Achievements

Harnaaz has done her graduation in IT and is pursuing MA in Public Administration.

Her achievements include Miss Fresh Face in 2017, Miss India World -2020 among top 20 finalists, Miss India Universe, Times Fresh Face 2017 Miss Chandigarh-winner and represented Chandigarh at national level in Mumbai, Miss Max Emerging Star 2018, finalist from Chandigarh in Miss Diva India 2018, lead heroine in Punjabi movie releasing this summer, Fabb Colours Femina Miss India Punjab 2019 and bestowed Miss Diva title of her college in 2019.

Hina Rohtaki

Hina Rohtaki is a Special Correspondent at The Indian Express, based in Chandigarh. She is one of the most prominent journalists covering the Chandigarh Administration, civic issues, and the unique political status of the Union Territory. Professional Background Experience: She has been in the field for over a decade and is known for her investigative reporting on administrative waste and urban governance. Awards: She is a recipient of the prestigious Ramnath Goenka Excellence in Journalism Award, which was presented to her by the President of India in January 2020. She was also awarded the Jethmalani prize (The Will of Steel Awards) in 2025 in the Empowerment category for a series of articles that highlighted the struggles of Covid widows. Core Beat: Her primary focus is the Chandigarh administrative structure, the Union Territory's financial management, and urban development projects. Recent Notable Articles (Late 2025) Her recent work highlights a focus on government accountability, administrative expenditures, and civic trends: 1. Investigative & Financial Reporting "Fuelling power: Senior UT IAS officers guzzled petrol worth Rs 30 lakh in 2 yrs" (Dec 14, 2025): An investigative report detailing the high fuel bills of top bureaucrats, including the Finance Secretary and Chief Secretary’s staff. "Admn spends Rs 1.5 crore on dismantling road railings and fixing again after increasing height" (Dec 8, 2025): Highlighting administrative waste on "non-viable" solutions for pedestrian control. "Chandigarh’s finances under ministry’s watch now" (Nov 27, 2025): Reporting on the new requirement for MHA approval for all new projects in the UT. 2. Governance & Constitutional Status "What will it mean for Chandigarh if it is brought under Article 240?" (Nov 24, 2025): An "Explained" piece on the potential constitutional shift that would grant the President more power over the UT's governance. "MP Manish Tewari moves Bill seeking directly elected Mayor with 5-year tenure" (Dec 6, 2025): Covering the legislative push to reform Chandigarh's municipal leadership structure. "No proposal to increase Mayor's term in Chandigarh by 5 years: Centre" (Dec 10, 2025): Reporting on the Union government's response to demands for a longer mayoral term. 3. Urban Infrastructure & Environment "Chandigarh admn cuts power to India's tallest air purifier, asks firm to dismantle it" (Nov 17, 2025): A critical report on the failure of a high-cost environmental project deemed "of no use" by experts. "UT rethinks 24/7 water supply project as costs soar" (Nov 26, 2025): Detailing the financial challenges and delays in modernizing the city's water network. "Centre 'obfuscating, covering up' MC's shifting deadlines for clearing Dadu Majra dump" (Dec 12, 2025): Reporting on the ongoing controversy surrounding the city's major waste dump. 4. Lifestyle & Local Trends "Chandigarh turns into a Thar city as women fuel the surge" (Dec 2, 2025): A feature on a unique automotive trend in the city, with a record 600 registrations by women drivers this year. "After fivefold spike in 2023, EV sales struggle to pick pace in Chandigarh" (Dec 2, 2025): Analyzing the slowdown in electric vehicle adoption despite previous surges. Signature Beat Hina is known for her meticulous tracking of RTI (Right to Information) data to expose administrative inefficiency. Her "Ground Zero" reporting on the Dadu Majra garbage dump and her scrutiny of the Chandigarh Smart City projects have made her a key figure in the city’s civil society discourse. X (Twitter): @HinaRohtaki ... Read More

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