Miss Universe: Sacred Miss India, the French Clémence Botino in the top 10 – archyde

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Miss India, Harnaaz Sandhu, was crowned Miss Universe in the Israeli city of Eilat on Monday, in a contest marked by calls for a boycott in support of the Palestinian cause. The young woman won the supreme distinction of beauty pageants on the shores of the Red Sea, ahead of Miss Paraguay, Nadia Ferreira, and Miss South Africa, Lalela Mswane.

The three Miss Universe finalists: Miss India (center) surrounded by Miss South Africa and Miss Paraguay. AFP / Menahem KAHANA AFP or licensors

This 70th edition of the annual competition places the French Clémence Botino, crowned Miss France 2020, in ninth place in the competition. Noticed during his passage in national clothes – dressed in the style of Joséphine Baker, recently pantheonized – the young Guadeloupean almost missed the competition due to Covid-19.

“Tonight is the last time I will take on my role as Miss France,” she wrote on Instagram, addressing her supporters. Thank you for these shared years, you have changed my life, you are somewhere a second family ”, she continued, shortly before the end of the competition.

If Clémence Botino has not yet reacted to the results, his supporters were quick to show him their admiration. “What a woman, what a journey! I can only applaud your incredible rise, “wrote her friend Flora Coquerel, Miss France 2014 on Instagram.” An exceptional journey, “concluded Sylvie Tellier, head of the organization of Miss France. Some anonymous stayed up a little late – the ceremony ended around 1 am in France – to follow the course of their Miss.

A heavy diplomatic context

The competition, which took place for the first time in Israel, took place in a heavy diplomatic climate. The South African Ministry of Sports, Culture and the Arts had urged Lalela Mswane, its candidate, not to go to Eilat, citing “the atrocities committed by Israel against the Palestinians”. The organization has also had to deal with the Covid-19 pandemic, and in particular the emergence of Omicron variant.

Palestinian organizations also called on the candidates not to participate in the event. “We urge all participants to withdraw, to avoid any complicity with the apartheid regime of Israel and its violation of the human rights of Palestinians,” called in particular the Palestinian Campaign for the Academic and Cultural Boycott of Israel.

In an interview in November, 2021 Miss Universe Andrea Meza of Mexico said the contest should stay away from politics. “Miss Universe is not a political or religious movement,” she said. Indonesia and Malaysia, countries which do not have diplomatic relations with Israel, did not send any candidates, but spoke of difficulties linked to the pandemic.

Contest participants must be between the ages of 18 and 28 and may never have married or had children. According to organizers’ estimates, the coronation ceremony was to be watched by 600 million viewers in 172 countries.