Miss Universe pageant: Miss India, Harnaaz Sandhu, crowned

Sandhu is a Bollywood actress and was crowned by 2020′s Miss Universe, Andrea Meza of Mexico, who had a shortened reign after COVID-19 delayed her competition until May 2021.

Sandhu beat Miss Paraguay, Nadia Ferreira, and Miss South Africa, Lalela Mswane, People magazine reported.

One country, Malaysia, a country that is predominantly Muslim with close ties to Palestine, did not attend after Palestine had urged countries to skip the pageant in protest of Israel’s treatment of Palestinians, the AP reported.

South Africa withdrew support for its representative after she continued her participation in the event.

The pageant also had to contend with growing concerns over the COVID-19 omicron variant, but many of the contestants were already in Israel before it closed its borders to foreign tourists.

>>Related: Miss USA crowned: Meet Miss Kentucky Elle Smith

The ones who arrived after the travel restrictions went into place had to have special permission to attend and had a mandatory 72-hour quarantine period once they arrived.

Contestants were tested every 48 hours and had to abide by strict mask requirements prior to the pageant broadcast.

One contestant, Miss France, Clemence Botino, tested positive shortly after arriving in Israel, but was cleared last week to take part, AP reported.

Sunday’s pageant also featured a contestant from the United Arab Emirates for the first time while Morocco sent a representative for the first time in four decades, People magazine reported.