Meet Saisha Shinde, the transwoman fashion designer behind Miss Universe Harnaaz Kaur Sandhu's finale gown

The whole world is congratulating 21-year-old Harnaaz Sandhu who was recently crowned Miss Universe 2021. The young diva brought back the crown to the nation after a long wait of 21 years. Before Harnaaz, it was Lara Dutta who won the Miss Universe title for India. It wouldn't be wrong to say everyone in India now knows Harnaaz Kaur's name but do you know the designer who designed Harnaaz's finale round gown? Swapnil Shinde is the name of the designer who designed the beautiful gown which was carried gracefully by Harnaaz. Early in 2021, popular millennial designer Swapnil Shinde came out of the closet and revealed that she is a transwoman. The ace designer after her transformation came to be known as Saisha Shinde. Saisha spoke to the media after the diva won the crown, expressing her happiness she said, ‘There is a certain expectation from Miss India at an International pageant. She has to look elegant, exquisite and the gowns needs to look delicate and dainty but at the same time powerful, strong, which incidentally my brand has become now after I have transitioned into a woman’. Saisha also spoke about designing the gown with Harnaaz’s preferences, she further said, ‘Harnaaz believes in sustainability, so we used embroidery material which was lying around at the studio.’ If one would have a close look at Harnaaz’s outfit one would notice that Saisha used phulkari patterns on the outfit contrasting it with the diva as she is a Punjabi. Needless to say, the journey has been tough for Saisha but what makes her most proud today is that the attire she designed was carried by Harnaaz where she was crowned as the Miss Universe in Israel.