Harnaaz Sandhu, Miss Universe 2021, has faced public scrutiny and bullying regarding her weight, both before and after winning the crown. Her experiences shed light on the pervasive issue of body shaming and the importance of self-acceptance.
The Celiac Disease Revelation
Sandhu revealed that she has celiac disease, an autoimmune disorder in which the ingestion of gluten leads to damage in the small intestine. Gluten is a protein found in wheat, rye, and barley. She stated, “Many people do not know I am allergic to gluten." She explained that she is "one of those individuals who was first bullied that ‘she’s too skinny’ and now they bully me by saying ‘she’s fat’," adding, "Nobody knows about my celiac disease."
Navigating Body Changes and Geographic Transitions
Sandhu also addressed how geographic changes can impact one's body, noting, "When you go to a village, you see changes in your body." This highlights the fact that various environmental and lifestyle factors can influence weight and overall health.
Weight Bullying and Public Scrutiny
Miss Sandhu's experience with weight bullies is nothing new. After being crowned Miss Universe in December 2021, Sandhu gained weight, which led to public criticism. "I was bullied for gaining weight," Sandhu said. "It was kind of uncomfortable and really surprising for me to see how people started having their opinions, which should not really matter."
Prioritizing Goals Over Health
Sandhu admitted that she had been intensely focused on her goals, which led to neglecting her health. "I was really focused towards my goal and I was [not] thinking about my health," Sandhu admits. She further explained, "During that time, I actually didn't work out, and I was just eating and just enjoying that time with my family."
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Emotional Toll and Self-Discovery
The pressure and criticism took a significant emotional toll on Sandhu. "I definitely broke down so many times," Sandhu admits. "Sometimes in the most unexpected times. I'm just about to go on stage or something and this whole thing comes in my mind." However, she has since embraced self-acceptance and self-love. "I've gone through that phase of my life where I used to feel bad about everything," Sandhu says. "Now, I started loving everything. It's okay to cry."
Discovering Allergies
Sandhu also shared her experiences with food allergies, noting, "I have a gluten allergy," Sandhu shares. "I can't have wheat or anything which contains wheat." She also realized she was allergic to eggs, "I'm allergic to eggs and I kind of realized that when I came to New York," the model and actress says. She explained that in India, eggs are "considered vegetarian and it's known as non-vegetarian in India," and "it took me time to realize that the things which I was allergic to, I was still having."
Embracing Imperfection and Promoting Body Positivity
Sandhu now promotes self-acceptance and body positivity, reminding others that "we all are imperfect." Her public announcement of her celiac disease can help to inform and encourage others, and to shine a light on the ongoing struggle against body critics and shame of all kinds. One key takeaway is that, while many people with celiac disease are underweight, normal and overweight people can also have celiac disease.
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