India's crowning moment Harnaaz Sandhu as the new Miss Universe
And the votes are in

Miss Universe 2021

🇮🇳 India - Harnaaz Sandhu

First runner-up

🇵🇾 Paraguay - Nadia Ferreira

Second runner-up

🇿🇦 South Africa - Lalela Lali Mswali


Outgoing Miss Universe Andrea Meza makes her final walk

The teary-eyed Meza, from Mexico, is in a maroon and pink balloon gown as she goes around the stage in her final moment as the shortest reigning queen.

Paraguay's final statement

I've been through so many situations in my life but I overcome it. So I want all women, all persons watching in this moment to join forces to do what you're meant to do, because you can do it, because no matter the situation, you can overcome it and you'll always be victorious.

India's final statement

I think the biggest pressure the youth today is facing is to believe in themselves. To know that you are unique and that what makes you beautiful, stop comparing yourselves with others and let's talk more important things that's happening worldwide. I think this is what you need to understand. 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.

South Africa's final statement

To choose courage over comfort at every opportunity they get. I would like women to know that since the beginning of time, they've had anything--everything, rather--within them to achieve anything they've wanted. It is unfortunately the world that convinced them they do not.

Final statements

The three remaining candidates have given their answers to a single question:

What advice would you give to young women watching on how to deal with the pressures they face today?
The three finalists are
  • South Africa
  • India 
  • Paraguay

🇵🇭  The Philippines' Bea Gomez drops out of the competition at this point.

Q&A: Bea Gomez's take on mandatory vaccine passports

Miss Universe 2016 Iris Mittenaere:

Given the ever-changing COVID situation, what is your opinion on mandating vaccine passports.

Bea Gomez of the Philippines:

Boker Tov, Israel! Shalom.

I believe that public health is everyone's responsibility. And to mandate vaccine inoculation is necessary and mandating vaccine passport would help us in regulating the rollout of vaccines and mitigating the situation of the pandemic today, then I would agree on mandating the necessary passport of vaccination.

We're now at the defining Q&A portion
  1. India - climate change
  2. South Africa - social media posts by teenager
  3. Paraguay - body shaming
  4. Colombia - women's voice
  5. Philippines - mandatory vaccine passports