Focus. Take care of your mental health.
Miss Universe 2021 Harnaaz Sandhu gave this advice to beauty queens competing in pageants, on her first day of arriving in the Philippines where she led a forum on menstrual health, one of her major advocacies.
In a media conference organized by Plan International at Citadines Hotel in Pasay City, the reigning Miss Universe from India shared: "My winning secret has always been to take care of my mental health, to make sure to think that everything that comes my way is temporary, and I am going to grow from it."
"Whenever I felt the pressure's too high or it was getting overwhelming and out of control, I always took the time for my own self," she added.
Sandhu noted that it's normal to feel "overwhelmed and nervous," in reply to a question about the feverish excitement surrounding the coming Miss Universe Philippines finals in Manila.
"Just enjoy. After everything is over, you will regret that you should have enjoyed," she said.
""Be grateful that you have been given this opportunity to represent yourself and to inspire so many young ladies around you who want to be in your position right now," she added.
Ms Sandhu is a special guest in the Miss Universe Philippines Grand Coronation Night, which will be held on April 30 at the MOA Arena. She will join three other Miss Universe winners who will be in the pageant - Pia Wurtzbach, Iris Mittinaere, and Demi-Leigh Tebow.
The New York-based Miss Universe 2021 revealed that it is her first time in the Philippines. She confessed that she is a foodie who is looking forward to sample local cuisine, specifically halo-halo.
She also announced her donation of one menstrual pad-making machine, which will be coursed through Plan International Philippines.
Sandhu is on a mission to break social taboos surrounding menstruation. She said society needs to view a woman's period as normal and accept it in the terminology so that women from all over the world can have access to resources and adopt safe menstrual practices.