The pandemic couldn\u2019t keep the competitors from turning up for the 2021 Miss Universe Singapore<\/strong><\/span>.<\/p>\n With their passion, energy and strength, eight finalists appeared for the first time in a digital format as part of www.thefrontrow.style, last Friday, 17 September 2021 at 9pm, and the winner was chosen.<\/p>\n Following closely, the first runner up was 21-year-old student Kalynskye Adrian, the second runner up was Lila Tan, 18, and the third runner up was 22-year-old Mardhiah Azizan. Ms Banna will now represent Singapore for the December event, the 70th Miss Universe international competition in Eilat, Israel.<\/p>\n According to Ms Banna, \u201cthe Miss Universe Singapore competition showcases the diverse people and beauty of Singapore, while giving talented women a global platform to share their views and to stand up for what they believe in\u201d.<\/p>\n Ms Banna<\/strong> is currently in her third year as a double degree student, majoring in Business Management and Information Systems (Business Analytics) at Singapore Management University.<\/p>\n She says that she is \u201cpassionate about leveraging technology to create a more sustainable future\u201d. Ms Banna is also a passionate volunteer who mentors primary students in interpersonal and life skills.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n Miss Universe Singapore<\/strong> is a national beauty pageant in Singapore and organised by Miss Universe Singapore Organisation to select the country’s representative to the Miss Universe pageant.<\/p>\n (previously called Miss Singapore)<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Titleholders<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n The title of the first Miss Singapore<\/strong> ever was won by the Siti Mariam binti Ismail in 1951. The city-state republic has been represented at Miss Universe every year since 1966. The country had its first semi finalist when Kathie Lee Lee Beng secured the 8th position, the highest ever placement Singapore attained when the pageant was held in St. Louis in 1983. In 1987 when Singapore played host to the Miss Universe pageant, home favourite Marion Nicole Teo came in at the 9th place.<\/p>\n Between 2001 and 2007, the contest was telecast ‘live’ by the local television station Mediacorp’s Channel 5. Miss Universe Singapore Organisation holds the license to oversee and produce the Miss Universe Singapore pageant (2015). Prior to 2015, the contest was organised by Derrol Stepenny Promotions.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n\n Winning a pageant takes more than surface-level beauty, and the newly crowned winner of Miss Universe Singapore (MUS) 2021 is testament to that.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n Miss Nandita Banna<\/strong> backs up her victory with strong education credentials, high career ambitions and a deep sense of social justice.<\/p>\n She 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).<\/p>\n The 21-year-old undergrad told The New Paper that it is important not to pigeonhole women, saying: “Just because someone is beautiful does not mean she is not going to be smart, or if she goes to a good school that she will not focus on interests outside of it.”<\/p>\n She added: “Most women nowadays are well-rounded individuals, and we are interested in our education and furthering our careers, but we also have creative outlets.<\/p>\n “For me, it is modelling and dance. For others, it could be music or painting. We are multi-faceted individuals and we shouldn’t be judged on only the one or two things we are seen doing.”<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n Miss Nandita, who is 1.76m tall and has been modelling professionally since 2017, never harboured any ambitions on joining a pageant but did so at the urging of her modelling agent.<\/p>\n “The typical image of a pageant girl – great smile, beautiful hair – I didn’t think I had any of that,” she said.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n “But I signed up to push myself, try something new and build my confidence.”<\/p>\n She juggled preparing for MUS with school and an internship with a data analytics firm. Her efforts culminated in her crowning moment on Sept 17.<\/p>\n Miss Nandita, who hopes to have a career in a field that combines data analytics and urban planning, said she felt honoured to be bestowed the MUS title.<\/p>\n “It is easy to assume a pageant is just about beautiful girls in swimsuits and to write it off. But Miss Universe has come a long way from that, and it now embraces people of various colours and body shapes and also transgender women.<\/p>\n “It gives the platform for participants to change the perception of what beauty can be and an opportunity for us to stand up for causes we believe in.”<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\nCongratulations to Ms Nandita Banna<\/strong>, 21, the new Miss Universe Singapore 2021<\/strong>.<\/h4>\n
Miss Universe Singapore<\/h2>\n\n\n
\n
2009 Rachel Janice Kum<\/h4>\n<\/li>\n
2010 Tania Lim Kim Suan<\/h4>\n<\/li>\n
2011 Valerie Lim<\/h4>\n<\/li>\n
2012 Lynn Tan<\/h4>\n<\/li>\n
2013 Shi Lim<\/h4>\n<\/li>\n
2014 Rathi Menon<\/h4>\n<\/li>\n
2015 Lisa Marie White<\/h4>\n<\/li>\n
2016 Cheryl Chou<\/h4>\n<\/li>\n
2017 Manuela Bruntraeger<\/h4>\n<\/li>\n
2018 Zahra Khanum<\/h4>\n<\/li>\n
2019 Mohana Prabha<\/h4>\n<\/li>\n
2020 Bernadette Belle Ong<\/h4>\n<\/li>\n
2021 Nandita Banna<\/h4>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n
Singapore has been sending representatives to Miss Universe contest as early as 1954.<\/span><\/h4>\n
Miss Universe Singapore 2021 is more than just a pretty face<\/span><\/h2>\n
Miss Universe Singapore hopes to use her position to push racial harmony agenda<\/h6>\n
\n
\n
\n
One of those causes for Miss Nandita is racial harmony in Singapore.<\/h5>\n
Miss Universe 2021 – Contestant (Singapore – Nandita Banna)<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n