Kerala has a new beauty queen to cheer for. Kaziah Liz Mejo, a 19-year-old law student from the state, has been crowned Miss Universe India 2026 after emerging victorious at the grand finale in Jaipur. She will now represent India at the 75th Miss Universe pageant in Puerto Rico in November 2026.
Kaziah’s victory marks a major milestone in her pageant journey. She competed against 52 national finalists at the finale held at Zee Studios in Jaipur on August 23 and ultimately secured the coveted crown. Reigning Miss Universe India 2025 Manika Vishwakarma crowned Kaziah as her successor.
Who Is Kaziah Liz Mejo?
Kaziah Liz Mejo is a 19-year-old law student, model and trained classical dancer from Kerala. Before winning the national title, she had already established herself in the pageant circuit.
She previously won the Miss Universe Kerala 2026 title and also represented India at Miss Teen International, where she finished as the first runner-up. Her latest victory now takes her from the state and national pageant stages to the international Miss Universe platform.
Kaziah’s journey has also been shaped by her own battle with confidence. Earlier this year, she spoke about experiencing insecurities about her looks and personality and explained how she deliberately worked on her communication, personality and confidence.
Kaziah Mejo Wins After Competing Against 52 Finalists
The Miss Universe India 2026 finale brought together contestants from across the country, with Kaziah eventually emerging as the winner.
The competition was organised by the Glamanand Group, which manages the Miss Universe India Organisation. The grand finale took place at Zee Studios in Jaipur and featured a selection process focused on confidence, eloquence and stage presence.
Kaziah’s win came after a closely contested final round. Reports indicate that the finalists were required to deliver closing remarks within a limited time, giving the contestants an opportunity to demonstrate their communication skills and ability to handle pressure.
Who Were The Runners-Up?
Kaziah was followed by contestants from several different states in the final rankings.
Tamil Nadu’s Vaishnavi Gannesh was named the first runner-up and also received the Miss International India 2026 title. Anushri Satavlekar of Gujarat finished as the second runner-up.
Tejaswini Shrivastava of Maharashtra and Anubha Vashisth of Uttarakhand were named the third and fourth runners-up respectively.
The results highlighted the national reach of this year’s competition, with finalists representing different parts of India.
Kaziah’s Emotional Reaction After Winning
Following her victory, Kaziah spoke about the significance of the moment and the years of preparation behind it.
She described winning the crown as an iconic moment and said she had worked towards the goal for more than three years. She also expressed particular pride in being able to bring the crown home to Kerala and showcase her home state on an international platform.
For Kaziah, the victory is not simply about winning a beauty pageant. She has spoken about the internal struggle involved in developing the confidence required to stand on such a large stage.
She said the most difficult struggle is often the internal one — learning to believe that you are worth more than you may initially think. At only 19, she described stepping onto the Miss Universe India stage as requiring considerable courage and self-belief.
From Insecurity To The Miss Universe India Crown
Kaziah’s story has an interesting personal dimension because she has previously spoken openly about her insecurities.
Before becoming Miss Universe Kerala, she said she struggled with confidence and had worked extensively on herself. Her preparation involved improving her communication, personality and overall confidence.
She has credited the pageant journey with helping her become more comfortable with who she is rather than simply focusing on conventional ideas of beauty.
Her experience is now likely to become an important part of her preparation for the international Miss Universe competition.
Harnaaz Sandhu Inspired Kaziah’s Pageant Journey
Kaziah has previously revealed that Harnaaz Sandhu’s Miss Universe victory in 2021 played an important role in inspiring her to enter the pageant world.
She recalled watching Harnaaz win the crown for India and said that the victory sparked her interest in pageantry. Kaziah has also spoken about being inspired by Harnaaz’s resilience and ability to remain true to herself despite public scrutiny.
That inspiration has now brought Kaziah to the same national stage, with the young Kerala titleholder preparing to represent India at the world’s biggest beauty pageant.
A Historic Moment For Kerala
Kaziah’s victory is especially significant for Kerala.
Her win gives the state a national Miss Universe India titleholder and places a young Malayali woman at the centre of India’s international pageant campaign. Her own comments after the victory reflected how strongly she feels connected to her home state.
She has said that she wants to represent both India and Kerala and show the world what her home state has to offer.
For her supporters in Kerala, the victory is therefore about more than a crown — it is an opportunity for the state’s culture and identity to receive a wider international spotlight.
Kaziah’s Journey From Miss Universe Kerala To India’s National Crown
Kaziah’s rise has happened quickly.
Earlier in 2026, she won Miss Universe Kerala, establishing herself as one of the state’s leading pageant contestants. She then entered the national Miss Universe India competition and ultimately defeated 52 other finalists to claim the country’s title.
Her previous experience at Miss Teen International also gave her exposure to international pageantry before she entered the Miss Universe India competition.
That combination of national and international experience could prove useful as she prepares for the next stage of her journey.
Who Judged Miss Universe India 2026?
The judging panel featured several prominent names from India’s beauty-pageant and entertainment world.
According to reports, the panel included Sushmita Sen, India’s first Miss Universe; former Miss Universe India winners Urvashi Rautela and Rhea Singha; and Celina Jaitly, who was also part of the selection process. Environmentalist and film producer Pragya Kapoor was among the other judges.
The presence of former titleholders added another layer of significance to the competition, with women who had previously represented India on the international pageant stage participating in the selection process.
Kaziah Liz Mejo’s Next Challenge: Miss Universe 2026
Winning Miss Universe India is only the beginning for Kaziah.
She will now prepare for the 75th Miss Universe pageant, scheduled to take place in Puerto Rico in November 2026.
The international competition will put Kaziah against representatives from countries and territories around the world. Her preparation will likely include intensive work on communication, interviews, stage presence, fitness, styling and international representation.
Kaziah has already made it clear that her biggest ambition is to bring the Miss Universe crown back to India.
Can Kaziah Bring The Miss Universe Crown Back To India?
India has a distinguished history at Miss Universe.
Sushmita Sen became the country’s first Miss Universe in 1994, while Lara Dutta won the title in 2000. More recently, Harnaaz Sandhu brought the crown back to India in 2021 after a gap of two decades.
Kaziah now has the opportunity to join that elite group.
Her confidence, communication skills and previous pageant experience will be tested on the international stage. But her journey so far suggests that she is comfortable embracing challenges and learning from them.
What Makes Kaziah’s Story Stand Out?
Beyond the crown and the glamour, Kaziah’s journey is notable because she has openly discussed her struggles with confidence.
Rather than presenting success as something that came easily, she has described the process of working on herself and overcoming self-doubt. Her victory at 19 therefore represents not just a pageant achievement but also the culmination of years of personal preparation.
Her background as a law student and trained classical dancer further adds to her profile as she prepares to represent India internationally.
India’s New Miss Universe Hope
With Kaziah Liz Mejo now officially crowned Miss Universe India 2026, attention will shift towards her preparations for the international competition.
The 19-year-old from Kerala has already made history by winning the national title. Now she has a much bigger responsibility: representing India at the 75th Miss Universe pageant in Puerto Rico.
For Kaziah, the goal is clear. She wants to carry India’s identity, Kerala’s spirit and her own story of overcoming self-doubt onto the global stage.
If her national victory is any indication, the young titleholder has already shown that she has the confidence and determination to dream big.
The next chapter begins in Puerto Rico.
FAQ
Q1. Who won Miss Universe India 2026?
Kaziah Liz Mejo from Kerala won the Miss Universe India 2026 title.
Q2. How old is Kaziah Liz Mejo?
Kaziah Liz Mejo is 19 years old.
Q3. How many finalists did Kaziah Liz Mejo beat?
She emerged victorious among 53 finalists, including herself, at the grand finale.
Q4. Where was Miss Universe India 2026 held?
The grand finale was held at Zee Studios in Jaipur.
Q5. Who will Kaziah Liz Mejo represent at Miss Universe 2026?
She will represent India at the 75th Miss Universe pageant in Puerto Rico in November 2026.
