Unless you are living under a rock, you might’ve known that Harnaaz Sandhu from India is crowned Miss Universe 2021 on Monday. India got its third Miss Universe after 21 years. In 2000, Lara Dutta won the title after Sushmita Sen won it for the first time in 1994.
While people are celebrating their new Miss Universe, many of them do not know that Harnaaz’s winning gown is designed by a trans woman. Saisha Shinde, who was known as Swapnil Shinde earlier, designed Harnaaz’s silver gown.
The stunning silver gown having plunging neckline and beaded embellishment has created history. Saisha took to Instagram to share her happiness after Harnaaz won the title. She wrote, “We did it” while Miss Universe calling the dress her “lucky charm” commented, “Thank you for the lucky charm, you are!”
Saisha came out as transgender earlier this year. She shared a note on her Instagram at that time, “It was only in my early 20s at NIFT where I found the courage to accept my truth; I truly bloomed. I spent the next few years believing that I was attracted to men because I was gay, but it was only 6 years ago that I finally accepted myself, and today that I accept you. I’m not a gay man. I am a Transwoman.”
The fashion designer also shared the meaning of her name with a heartfelt note with her followers. She captioned the post, “Saisha means a meaningful life and I plan to make mine an exceptionally meaningful one.”
After her designed gown made it to the global stage, Saisha spoke to a leading daily revealing the process of making the gown and how her transition has helped. She stated, “There is a certain expectation from Miss India at an International pageant. She has to look elegant, exquisite and the gowns need to look delicate and dainty but at the same time powerful, strong, which incidentally my brand has become now after I have transitioned into a woman.”
Later she spoke about the details and how Harnaaz believed in sustainability, “The gown is embellished with embroidery, stones, and sequins. Harnaaz believes in sustainability, so we used embroidery material which was lying around at the studio.”
The designer also shared glimpses of making the gown and the design itself in her Instagram stories.
The 40-year-old designer has designed the sheer embellished gown keeping in mind Harnaaz’s Punjabi roots. She has also incorporated heavy phulkari patterns in the gown to give an ode to her culture.
Harnaaz Kaur Sandhu was born in Punjab, India, and raised in a Sikh family. Sandhu completed her schooling and college in Chandigarh prior to her global pageant. Harnaaz beat Nadia Ferreira from Paraguay to grab the title of Miss Universe 2021.
On the other hand, Saisha Shinde has been a well-known name in the glamor industry. She has earlier designed outfits for various Bollywood celebrities, including, Kareena Kapoor Khan, Anushka Sharma, Priyanka Chopra, Katrina Kaif, Deepika Padukone among others.