Harnaaz Kaur Sandhu is an Indian model, actress, and beauty pageant titleholder, best known for being crowned Miss Universe 2021. She is the third Indian to win the prestigious title, following Sushmita Sen (1994) and Lara Dutta (2000). Before her international success, Harnaaz was crowned Femina Miss India Punjab in 2019 and was a semifinalist at the Femina Miss India 2019 pageant. Since her pageant victories, she has ventured into acting, marking her presence in the entertainment industry.

Sandhu was born in Kohali village, located in Gurdaspur district, Punjab, to parents Pritampal Singh Sandhu, a realtor, and Rabinder Kaur Sandhu, a gynecologist. Raised in a Punjabi Jat Sikh family, Harnaaz has one sibling. In 2006, she moved to England with her family but returned to India in 2008, settling in Chandigarh. Her early life was deeply rooted in Punjabi culture while being shaped by global experiences.

Harnaaz completed her schooling at Shivalik Public School and pursued higher education at the Post Graduate Government College for Girls in Chandigarh. Before her Miss Universe win, she was working towards a master’s degree in public administration. Apart from her native language Punjabi, she is fluent in Hindi and English, which has helped her represent India on international platforms with grace and eloquence.