Sushmita Sen's emotional Miss Universe India 2026 moment with Manipur designer caught on camera: 'Humbleness, purity'

Sushmita Sen's sweet backstage moment with Manipur designer at Miss Universe India 2026 is winning hearts – 'seeing you is like I'm home', she told him.

Apart from the crowning moment, another highlight of Miss Universe India 2026 happened backstage, and it involved Sushmita Sen. While the internet was busy doing what the internet does best — dissecting every second of the finale and coming up with theories about Sushmita Sen 'snubbing' winner Kaziah Liz Mejo — a wholesome video quietly dropped on Instagram.

Sushmita Sen had the sweetest backstage reunion

The national pageant concluded on August 23, 2026, in Jaipur, Rajasthan, with 19-year-old law student Kaziah Liz Mejo being crowned Miss Universe India 2026. Sushmita, who made history as India's first Miss Universe in 1994, returned to the stage as a jury member alongside actor Urvashi Rautela and others.

Shortly after the crowning, a clip of Sushmita comforting the runner-up, who was emotional, began circulating online. Speculative rumours accused Sushmita of 'ignoring' the new winner. But an Instagram video shared on August 24 by Manipur fashion designer and entrepreneur Robert Naorem offered a different, warmer window into Sushmita's presence at Miss Universe India 2026.

Robert, who served as the state director for Miss Universe Manipur, posted a clip recorded moments after the Miss Universe India 2026 ceremony. In it, he approached Sushmita as she stood before the event backdrop. Her reaction was instant and unfiltered. "Oh my God! Oh my God!" she said, before pulling him into a long, tight hug.

Sushmita cupped his face in her hands and said, “I was looking... standing and smiling on stage... I was looking that you will leave. Are you good? All good? Have you been in a good place? Manipur is in a better place?”

Gifts and pure Sushmita energy

Robert then presented her with two gift bags containing traditional Manipuri pieces. Sushmita's excitement was palpable: "I get gifts! Thank you! What did you get me? Did you design it? Thank you so much! This time you got me a different colour. The pink one is still the special one. Oh, you got me... flowers for me! Thank you, my jaan (sweetheart)!"

Pulling him back into another hug, she added: "Means the world to me, you know? Seeing you anywhere, it's like I'm home. That's a huge, huge feeling of comfort." Robert, holding her hands, replied, "I feel the same too. I was so happy that I was able to meet you." Sushmita then said, "I am so happy too. Let's make this a habit."

‘The real definition of Miss Universe is you’

Posting the video, Robert wrote a heartfelt caption: "Forever you will be my favourite icon... have worked closely in this industry with many, but none like you. The real definition of Miss Universe is you, Sushmita Sen. Thank you for teaching me what humbleness, purity and love are all about."

Someone commented on the video, “So lovely to see this.” Another wrote, “It’s like her soul is taking a moment to deeply connect with another soul. This is pure love. She is pure love.”

This wasn't their first meeting. The two share a long-standing creative bond – Robert previously hosted Sushmita in Imphal in 2022, where she walked as the showstopper for his collection at Manipur Sangai Festival.