Aside from the showdown of the 83 delegates from different countries for this year’s competition, another thing that we looked forward to was Miss Universe 2021 Harnaaz Sandhu’s final walk as she passed on the crown to the next queen.

Representing India in the 70th edition of the pageant last year, she was the third to take home the Miss Universe crown for their country following Lara Dutta in 2000 and Sushmita Sen in 1994. And as her way of remarkably concluding her reign, the 22-year-old beauty queen paid tribute to her predecessors by wearing a stunning black number that featured pictures of their crowning moments printed on the skirt.

According to host and Miss Universe 2012 Olivia Culpo, Harnaaz had been “a force for good, leading as an ambassador and role model as she advocated for menstrual [equity] for women around the world.”

“I was 17 when I first stepped onstage and since that day, becoming Miss Universe was my goal. Like being given a megaphone on a worldwide stage to present the topic of menstrual equity before world leaders, asking them to keep this conversation ongoing,” she stated via her recorded audio as she waved and ramped on the Miss Universe stage for one last time.

She expressed her gratitude to the people behind the organization for giving her their immense love and for helping make her voice be heard. At the same time, she thanked her parents and everyone who has inspired her on this quest. She also promised to continue making her beloved country proud and reminded her successor to live this year to the fullest because tomorrow is never promised.”