Attiring Ms Sandhu: Saisha Shinde

Among the many who contributed to Harnaaz Sandhu’s win on the Miss Universe platform in Eilat, Southern District, Israel, is her costume designer, Saisha Shinde, an NIFT-graduate, who designed the gown for her final round.

Saisha, who was Swapnil Shinde before she came out as a transwoman early this year, has recorded as stating that the expectations from Miss India at an International pageant is that she looks elegant and exquisite with her gowns looking delicate, dainty and powerful and strong at once.

Keeping to the brief, Saisha designed Harnaaz’s gown such that it was embellished with embroidery, stones, sequins and phulkari patterns that spoke of Harnaaz’s Punjabi background.

Apparently, as Harnaaz believes in sustainability, the embroidery material used in her gown was taken from those lying around at Saisha’s studio. Incidentally, Saisha has also designed clothes for Bollywood celebs such as Madhuri Dixit, Priyanka Chopra, Kareena Kapoor Khan, Anushka Sharma, Katrina Kaif, Deepika Padukone and Taapsee Pannu.

Harnaaz won the Miss Universe 2021 pageant crown after she beat Paraguay’s Nadia Ferreira and South Africa’s Lalela Mswane.