Fashion Forward: Nandita Banna is Miss Universe Singapore 2021

Third year Business undergraduate Nandita Banna, 21, has been crowned Miss Universe Singapore 2021, following the first ever digital Miss Universe Singapore finals on Friday, 17th September.

Nandita came out tops, beating seven other hopefuls, including 1st runner-up Kalynskye Adrian, 2nd runner-up Lila Tan, and 3rd runner-up Mardhiah Azizan, to represent Singapore at the 70th Miss Universe International competition to be held in Eilat, Israel, this December.

Currently a third year double degree student, majoring in Business Management and Information Systems (Business Analytics) at Singapore Management University, Nandita, who stands at 1.76m tall, is passionate about leveraging technology to create a more sustainable future. An avid volunteer with ambitions to help people in real and meaningful ways, she also mentors primary school students to help them with interpersonal and life skills.

Impressing the judges with her personality, elegance in her walk, and eloquence in her answers during the competition, Nandita also hopes to bring awareness to the social issues in Singapore, such as climate change and female empowerment, and work on eliciting conversations and ways to improve them during her reign.

“I feel honoured and grateful for being given the opportunity to be Miss Universe Singapore 2021,” says Nandita. “It has really been a wonderful journey of learning more about myself, being more confident, and working with some amazing people to make this year’s competition happen.”

I hope that with my title and the platform that comes with it, I can shine some light on pertinent issues in Singapore and hope to work towards a more equal and caring society.

Miss Universe Singapore 2021 Nandita Banna

Streamed on The Front Row, the digital competition saw the eight finalists going through a series of competition rounds, including the swim wear round aboard luxury cruise ship, Genting Dream, the evening wear round, and the Question & Answer segment that took place at the National Museum of Singapore.

“We had a fantastic line-up of ladies with unique perspectives and backgrounds in this year’s competition,” says Ms Valerie Lim, National Director of Miss Universe Singapore Organization. “It was a close competition and Nandita stood out by showcasing what it means to be an empowered Singaporean woman in this day and age – someone who is diverse and inclusive in her perspective, intelligent, socially connected and a positive force for good. We wish Nandita all the best in the upcoming international competition and her reign as Miss Universe Singapore 2021.”

Along with the coveted crown, the first ever Miss Universe sustainable, conflict-free crown made with lab-grown diamonds, Nandita also received prizes from various sponsors, including a smile makeover by Orchard Scotts Dental, treatments by BH Medical Aesthetics, Beaute Hub and Shunji Matsuo, and products from M.A.C. Singapore.

Miss Universe Singapore was livestreamed on 17th September 2021, 9pm as part of The Front Row. Follow Miss Universe Singapore on Instagram @missuniversesg