There are only a few days left for the 71st edition of the Miss Universe, one of the four major international beauty pageants, the others being Miss World, Miss International, and Miss Earth.
The prestigious beauty pageant is organised by the Miss Universe Organization. The organisation has been purchased by Thailand-based JKN Global Group from its former owner, WME/IMG.
The first edition of the beauty pageant was held in 1952 in New York, and it was won by Finland’s Armi Kuusela, whereas the latest edition was won by India’s Harnaaz Sandhu.
As the stage is set for Miss Universe 2022, this year India will be represented by model and architect Divita Rai, who was crowned Miss Diva Universe on August 28, 2022, at the Miss Diva Organization’s 10th anniversary gala.
Who is Divita Rai: Personal life & Family
Divita Rai was born on January 10, 1998, in the port city of Mangalore, Karnataka, to Dilip Rai and Pravita Rai. She also has a younger brother named Daivik Rai.
Divita currently lives with her family in Mumbai, where she spent her formative years. She pursued her bachelor’s degree in architecture from the Sir JJ College of Architecture in Mumbai.
She is an architect and model by profession and also has a keen interest in painting, reading, listening to music, and sports like basketball and badminton.
She is hugely inspired by India’s first Miss Universe, actress Sushmita Sen, who was crowned with the title in 1994. Divita said, in addition to Sen’s beauty and strength, she is inspired by her conviction in her abilities.
Divita Rai Career
Growing up, Rai developed an interest in modelling and started participating in beauty pageants. In 2019, she participated in the Karnataka State competition for Femina Miss India, which sends India’s representatives to the Miss World pageant, and made it to the top 3.
In 2021, she competed in Miss Diva Universe 2021 and finished as the runner-up, while Miss Universe 2022, Harnaaz Sandhu, was the winner. However, in Miss Diva Universe 2022, she ended up as the winner and was crowned by the outgoing titleholder, Sandhu.
Standing 5’9″ tall, Rai is already a well-established model, having walked a number of fashion weeks across India, and is now all set to represent the country at the Miss Universe 2022 competition, which is set to be held on January 14, 2023, at the New Orleans Morial Convention Center in New Orleans, Louisiana, United States.
India’s Harnaaz Kaur Sandhu will crown her successor at the end of the event, and if Divita Rai wins Miss Universe 2022, she will be the fourth Indian in history to be declared winner of this beauty pageant after Sushmita Sen, Lara Datta, and Harnaaz Sandhu.
Miss Universe 2022 National Costume Round
As we all know, Divita Rai is representing India at the 71st Miss Universe Pageant, and she is performing gracefully in each and every round. Among all the rounds, the “National Costume Round,” in which all the contestants displayed their national costumes, drew the most attention.
Among all the characters, Divita stole the show by dressing as a golden bird, or Sone ki Chidiya. No doubt, Divita was looking absolutely gorgeous during all the rounds, but this look made a headline.
The whole costume was conceptualised by designer Abhishek Sharma. According to its overall design, the costume represents India as the golden bird, which is a symbol of the wealth of our rich cultural heritage and the spiritual essence of living in harmony with diversity.
