Miss India Harnaaz Sandhu may have been crowned Miss Universe 2021 at the pageant in Eilat, Israel on Sunday, 12 Dec., but in the eyes of everyone watching here at home, Miss Cayman Islands Georgina Kerford was a queen.
She shone in the preliminary evening gown and swimsuit competitions, and commanded the stage in her breathtaking, colourful banana orchid national costume, designed by Danielle Watler.
At only 18, Kerford (along with Miss British Virgin Islands Xaria Penn) was the youngest contestant in the group of 80 delegates, yet she carried herself with a poise and confidence well beyond her years.
The camera appeared to love her on the big night, zeroing in on her several times throughout the first elimination round. And, when others nearby were announced as semifinalists, she could be seen swinging around to congratulate them as they walked to centre stage.
At the end of the night, it came down to Miss India and Miss Paraguay, with emcee Steve Harvey announcing Miss India as the winner after the usual prolonged pause in order to build anticipation.
Other special awards were also given as part of the pageant, including Spirit of Carnival, won by Miss Bahamas Chantal O’Brian (who also made the top 10); the Impact Wave Award, which went to Miss Chile Antonia Figueroa; and Best in National Costume was won by Miss Nigeria Maristella Okpala, whose outfit was inspired by a famous traditional masquerade of the southeastern tribe of Nigeria. Her costume was created by Filipino fashion designer Kennedy Jhon Gasper.
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