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Nandita Banna, 21, attended Raffles Girls’ School and Raffles Institute, and is currently a third-year double degree student at Singapore Management University.
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Jeanmarie Tan Published 13 Dec 2021, 4:13 pm SGT
SINGAPORE – It may have taken India 21 years to reclaim the Miss Universe title.
But it has been an even longer 34-year wait since a Singaporean made it to the semi-finals of the international beauty pageant, after Ms Marion Nicole Teo’s feat in 1987, when the annual event was held in Singapore.
Reigning Miss Universe Singapore Nandita Banna, 21, made history for the country at the 70th Miss Universe competition in Eilat, Israel, on Monday morning (Dec 13) by cracking the Top 16.
Miss Harnaaz Sandhu of India was crowned the winner out of 80 delegates – succeeding her compatriot Lara Dutta in 2000 – followed by Paraguay and South Africa in first and second runner-up places respectively.
Ms Valerie Lim, director of Miss Universe Singapore, told The Straits Times: “Nandita just celebrated her 21st birthday on Nov 8, so (her achievement) is truly special. She’s someone who always keeps an open mind and pushes herself to try new things.”
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Miss Nandita attended Raffles Girls’ School and Raffles Institution and is currently a third-year double degree student at Singapore Management University, majoring in business management and information systems (business analytics).
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Right before the live telecast of the finals, Miss Nandita wrote on Instagram, rather prophetically: “I’m so excited and hope that all the effort I put in so far can get Singapore into the Top 16.
“Keep an eye out for me during the opening dance, ya girl is up in the front showing off her moves.”
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weehingthong 