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Harnaaz Sandhu shares Miss Universe 1997 Brook Lee's inspiring answer on handling criticism on weight gain: Watch video

Published on: Aug 18, 2022, 13:55:03 IST
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Harnaaz Sandhu shares Miss Universe 1997 Brook Lee's inspiring answer on handling criticism on weight gain  (Instagram)
Harnaaz Sandhu shares Miss Universe 1997 Brook Lee's inspiring answer on handling criticism on weight gain  (Instagram)

Miss Universe 2021 Harnaaz Sandhu shared a video of Miss Universe 1997 Brook Lee's inspiring answer on how she would handle criticism on weight gain on the Miss USA 1997 stage. She posted the clip with the caption, "Just a reminder."

Miss Universe Harnaaz Sandhu grabbed headlines earlier this month when she opened up on the online bullying she had to face for gaining weight after winning the beauty pageant. The 22-year-old was crowned the Miss Universe 2021 in December last year. After the win, she was touring India when online trolls targeted her for gaining weight. Now, Harnaaz has once again made a strong statement against women facing criticism for weight gain by posting a video of Miss Universe 1997 Brook Lee. Scroll ahead to know more.

On Wednesday, Harnaaz posted a video of Brook Antoinette Mahealani Lee, also known as Brook Lee, from the Miss USA 1997 competition on her Instagram stories. After winning the Miss USA title, Brooke went on to become the Miss Universe for that year. And just like her win, her answer on the Miss USA stage, which sealed her win, remains iconic. The host had asked Brooke what would she do if she faces criticism for weight gain from the press just like the reigning Miss Universe. "Miss Universe has recently been the subject of a lot of press attention about her weight. If this happened to you, how would you handle it?" the host had enquired Brooke. (Also Read: Harnaaz Sandhu steals show at Miss South Africa 2022 in deep-neck bodycon gown, says 'namaste' amid cheers: Watch videos)

Brooke replied, "I think I would take a good hard look at myself and I'd look from the inside out and I'd know that I was the same girl that was crowned that day and it really didn't matter what I look like on the outside because I won for what I was in here. So if I go up, I go down, I get taller, I get shorter my nose gets bigger, smaller...I'm still who I was when that crown was on my head and I a good representative no matter what." Watch her video below.

The video was posted by a Miss Universe fan page, which Harnaaz reposted with the caption, "Just a reminder."

Screenshot of the story Harnaaz Sandhu posted on Instagram.  (Instagram)
Screenshot of the story Harnaaz Sandhu posted on Instagram.  (Instagram)

In April, online trolls criticised Harnaaz for her weight gain, which led to her opening up about having celiac disease, an immune reaction to eating gluten, a protein found in wheat, barley, and rye.

  • Krishna Pallavi Priya
    ABOUT THE AUTHOR
    Krishna Pallavi Priya

    Krishna Priya Pallavi is a journalist with over 9 years of experience, covering health, fashion, pop culture, travel, wellness, entertainment, festivals, mental health, art, decor, fitness, and sex and relationships. She is an alumna of the Indian Institute of Mass Communication (IIMC), Dhenkanal, and holds an undergraduate degree in Journalism and Mass Communication from Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University, Delhi. Her strong academic foundation informs her analytical and detail-oriented approach to storytelling, helping her uncover stories where none seem to exist. Before joining Hindustan Times, Pallavi worked with some of India’s leading media organisations. She spent close to three years at India Today, where she honed her newsroom skills and developed a sharp editorial sensibility. She also worked for over a year and a half at Vagabomb, ScoopWhoop’s feminist digital platform, where she explored stories through a gender-sensitive, socially aware lens. Pallavi has a deep interest in global fashion trends and international fashion seasons, and enjoys interviewing celebrities and tracking pop culture movements—interests that frequently translate into engaging, reader-friendly stories. Alongside lifestyle and entertainment, she has a keen eye for impactful health and wellness journalism, regularly interacting with doctors, designers, and digital content creators to bring nuance and credibility to her work. Born and raised in Haryana, Pallavi remains deeply connected to her ancestral roots in Odisha. Her ability to spot fresh angles brings curiosity and depth to stories she pursues. When not chasing deadlines, she enjoys spending time with her dog, planning her next vacation, reading, running new trails, and discovering new destinations.Read More