SASHES AND TIARAS.....Miss Universe 2021 Finals! The Winner...the TOP 10 GOWNS!

Queen Harnaaz--Miss Universe India, Harnaaz Sandhu, as she is crowned Miss Universe 2021, Eilat Israel

Last night was the 70th Miss Universe competition. The contest was held in Israel for the very first time, in the resort city of Eilat, located at the northern tip of the Red Sea. 80 women from all over the world competed for the crown but it was Harnaaz Sandhu of India who won!

And Miss Universe is...INDIA!!! The moment Miss Universe India is named Miss Universe 2021, Eilat Israel

It has been 21 years since a Miss India has won the pageant and this marks the THIRD time a contestant from India has won the coveted crown; the first being Sushmita Sen in 1994 and Lara Dutta in 2000...

India's Universal Beauties--(L to R) Sushmita Sen Miss Universe 1994, Lara Dutta Miss Universe 2000, and Harnaaz Sandhu Miss Universe 2021

Miss India Universe being crowned by the outgoing Miss Universe, Andrea Meza of Mexico--Miss Universe 2021, Eilat Israel

Harnaaz is 21 years old, stands 5' 9 1/2" (1.76 m) tall, and comes from Punjab. She was previously crowned Miss Diva Universe 2021 (the Miss India Universe) and works as a model and actress. She will now undoubtedly go on to international fame as well as possibly Bollywood stardom, as the previous other Miss Universes from India have.

Harnaaz Sandhu Miss Universe India, as she learns she is Miss Universe 2021, Eilat Israel

Miss Universe India, Harnaaz Sandhu, in her national costume--Miss Universe 20201 National Costume Presentation

Speaking of costumes...the Best Costume went to:

Miss Universe Nigeria Mariostella Okpala--Costume designed and created by Filipino designer Kennedy Jhon Gasper

Now, let's discuss the TOP TEN GOWNS:

My Top 5 Fave: (L to R) Miss Universe India, Miss Universe Paraguay, Miss Universe Colombia, Miss Universe Philippines, Miss Universe Puerto Rico

Here are my TOP 10 in EVENING GOWN--Beginning with my Top Best:

1. COLOMBIA: Valeria Ayos. This gown was my favorite from the Top 10. The strapless golden gown was STUNNING, featuring vertical shimmering sequins, jeweled crystals over a nude tulle backing with a dramatic gold lame pleated back overskirt. I thought it was the best of these golden/nude gowns. It was elegant and fit her perfectly. I also appreciated the lack of slit-up-to-there or open-here and open-there and also proves that you don't need to have a ridiculous slit or front opening to achieve Pageant Gown Drama darlings. The gown was designed by the "King" of Colombian Pageant Gowns, Alfredo Barraza. 

9.90

2. PHILIPPINES: Beatrice Gomez. Beatrice's gown was impacting from the second she stepped onto the stage. I loved the drama of the silhouette of this gown, especially the exaggerated sleeve/cape. The golden/nude gown featured sequined embroidery depicting indigenous tribal patterns known as "pintados" in an art deco design. The sexy gown also featured a very open side slit (it's really a cut-out!) which has become almost a must for any pageant gal; I'm not always a fan of these but, I liked it here. Overall, I put her as my No. 2 because of the FIERCE factor of this gown; it made me stand up from my couch! The gown was designed by Francis Libiran.

9.45

3. PARAGUAY: Nadia Ferreira. First of all, Nadia deserves to have a new "Miss Universe" trophy handed to her: The FACE of Miss Universe...her face is INCREDIBLE! I literally could almost care less what she was wearing when she has such a STUNNING face...but nevertheless, I was happy she wore this beautiful gown! The mint-colored dress had a crystal-embellished fitted bodice, nude sequined sleeves, a handkerchief-like bottom half with pleated chiffon, and a matching chiffon cape...for added drama. She looked ethereal and angel-like. The gown was designed by Ilse Jara.

9.40

4. INDIA: Harnaaz Sandhu. The eventual winner of the contest, India's Harnaaz Sandhu wore an elegant silver/nude gown, beautiful enough to make my No. 4 spot in Best Gowns from the Miss Universe Finals. The design featured thousands of sequins and crystals over a nude tulle base in a fit-and-flare shape with a faux open v-neck (it had a nude illusion at the front), drop shoulders, and a center front slit. It fit to perfection and was conservative, compared to some of the va-va-voom slit-up-there looks seen in the pageant.

Gown designed by Saisha Sinde

9.35

5. PUERTO RICO: Michelle Colon. Michelle wore this halter-style sequined gown for the Finals of the pageant. It was sexy, impacting, and very retro "Bob Mackie"/Cher (which basically sums up every other gown at these pageants nowadays!). The sequin details were done in a web-like manner, with fringe and crystals in violet-blue colors, done over nude as well as gold backing. And of course, it featured a very open side slit. 

9.15

6. ARUBA: Thessaly Zimmerman. Thessaly wore the same gown she wore during the Preliminary Competition and I am not surprised she wore it for the Finals. This fitted dress featured silver sequin applique over tulle netting showcasing her fabulous figure and stature and open slit to better show her beyond-long legs. While it was a little "Figure Skating Costume"-adjacent in its nude illusion-over-sequins design, I did love the branch-like applique and it fit her like a second skin. The gown was designed by John Lecksell.

9.05

7. THE BAHAMAS: Chantel O'Brian: Chantel made history last night by being the first Bahamian to place in the Top 10 at Miss Universe...so "clap, clap, clap!". For the Top 10 Evening Gown portion, she wore this silver sequined gown designed by Garimon Roferos. The fitted dress featured silver sequins over nude lining with long sleeves and a high side-front slit (of course!). The torso/top portion had the same silver paillettes but was applied over nude illusion. I wasn't such a fan of the top portion, only because it drew too much attention to the chest but...overall, she looked DIVINE in this and her face and attitude showed it! 

8.99

8. SOUTH AFRICA: Lalela Mswane. Lalela wore this gown to the Finals which was different from what she had worn for the Preliminaries--a rather clean and elegant white mock-turtleneck fitted dress with long sleeves. This design was more elaborate and featured much more sequin work. This golden nude design had a "Warrior Queen"-like inspiration--from the padded shoulders to the high neck and metallic applique. It was certainly an impacting design yet, it was possibly a bit too "costume"...I might have taken maybe an inch off the length of the shoulder pads...or done without those altogether. The gown was designed by Ezra Couture Dubai.

8.95

9. FRANCE: Clemence Botino. Clemence--and her gown--ended in 9th place with this golden shimmering gown. The fitted gown had a deep v-neck, high side front slit, and nude illusion "cut-outs" in the back. It's a pretty dress...it was just nice and not especially memorable, or high fashion, or impacting enough for the Miss Universe stage. It was maybe too safe; I expected something more from a Miss France, after all.

8.70

10. USA: Elle Smith. The gorgeous Miss USA, Elle Smith changed the gown she wore for the Preliminaries (which I LOVED!) and wore this column design from Michael Cinco. The gown was a strapless design in aquamarine sequins over nude tulle/illusion. I was rather underwhelmed by this. Not sure if it was the fact that her Preliminary gown was so much MORE! Or it was the color, or the big swath of nude illusion that was overwhelming and didn't really match her skin color...not sure...even her attitude on stage seemed to say "I'm sorry" (as opposed to some of the other ladies who were acting as if it was THE EVENING GOWN OLYMPICS!). 

8.35

I wished she would have worn the dress she wore to the Preliminaries:

Miss USA Elle Smith, Miss Universe 2021 Preliminary Competition, in Michael Cinco gown

Top 5 Miss Universe 2021--(L to R) Miss India Universe, Miss South Africa Universe, Miss Paraguay Universe, Miss Colombia Universe, and Miss Philippines Universe

CONGRATULATIONS to Harnaaz Sandhu, Miss India Universe,...the new MISS UNIVERSE!

...and Don't Forget about my "The Pageant Coloring Book" where you can create your VERY OWN Evening Gown Competition using my Fashion Illustrations! Click HERE to Purchase: