Who is Shweta Sharda, the 23-year-old who will represent India at Miss Universe 2023?

The 72nd Miss Universe pageant will take place in El Salvador on November 18 with contestants from over 90 countries, aiming to win the coveted crown.

India will be represented by 23-year-old Shweta Sharda, who became eligible to take part in Miss Universe 2023 pageant after winning the Miss Diva Universe 2023 crown  in August.

Here's all you need to know about Shweta Sharda:

• Sharda was born on May 24, 2000 in Chandigarh. Raised by a single mother, Sharda moved to Mumbai, accompanied by her mother, at the age of 16. As per Femina Beauty Pageants, she later completed her graduation from the Indira Gandhi National Open University in Delhi.


• Sharda took part in several dance reality shows such as Dance Deewane, Dance+ and Dance India Dance. Additionally, she also featured in Jhalak Dikhla Jaa as a choreographer.


• In August, Sharda won the Miss Diva Universe 2023 crown at the finale held in Mumbai. The victory also made her eligible to represent India at the Miss Universe 2023 pageant.


• During the finale, Sharda referred to her mother as "most influential person in her life". On the pageant page, Sharda also wrote that her proudest moment was when she had a chance to teach steps to leading Bollywood actors such as Deepika Padukone and Madhuri Dixit. "When I got a chance to work and teach my dancing to India’s most loveable actors I have seen on television or the big screen, like Deepika Padukone, Salman Khan, Katrina Kaif, Mouni Roy and Vaibhavi Merchant, the evergreen diva Madhuri Dixit!"


• Sharda has over 5 lakh Instagram followers and has featured opposite  actor Shantanu Maheshwari in a music video for a song called "Mast Aankhein".

Also read: Miss Universe 2023: Date, venue, time, where to watch the pageant in India