Kaziah Liz Mejo Wins Miss Universe India 2026: Meet Kerala’s 19-Year-Old Beauty Queen
Kerala’s Kaziah Liz Mejo has been crowned Miss Universe India 2026, marking a major milestone in the 19-year-old’s pageant journey. She won the national title at the grand finale held at Zee Studios in Jaipur on August 23, beating 52 other finalists from across the country.
With the victory, Kaziah will now represent India at the 75th Miss Universe pageant, which is scheduled to take place in Puerto Rico in November 2026.
Who Is Kaziah Liz Mejo?
Kaziah Liz Mejo is a 19-year-old law student, model and classical dancer from Kerala. She was raised in Abu Dhabi and has built a strong background in both academics and the performing arts. Her victory has made her the first woman from Kerala to win the Miss Universe India national title.
Her journey into pageantry began well before the national competition. She won the Miss Teen Diva title in 2024 and went on to become the first runner-up at Miss Teen International in 2025. In 2026, she also won the Miss Universe Kerala title before taking the national crown.
Kaziah’s Journey to the National Crown
The Miss Universe India 2026 finale brought together contestants from different parts of the country, with Kaziah eventually emerging at the top.
Her win was not simply about appearance. As a law student and trained performer, she brought together academics, stage confidence and experience from previous pageants. Her background in classical dance has also helped her develop stage presence and discipline.
At just 19, her national victory makes her one of the youngest titleholders in the competition’s recent history.
Who Were the Runners-Up?
Tamil Nadu’s Vaishnavi Gannesh was named the first runner-up and will also carry the title of Miss International India 2026. Gujarat’s Anushri Satavlekar finished as the second runner-up.
Tejaswini Shrivastava from Maharashtra secured third place, while Anubha Vashist Chaudhary from Uttarakhand finished fourth.
The finale also featured a high-profile judging panel that included India’s first Miss Universe, Sushmita Sen, along with Urvashi Rautela, Rhea Singha, Pragya Kapoor and Celina Jaitly.
From Kerala to the National Stage
Kaziah’s win has special significance for Kerala. She has become the first Keralite to win the Miss Universe India title, adding another important achievement to her growing pageant résumé.
Her story also reflects the increasingly diverse backgrounds of contestants entering India’s beauty-pageant circuit. Although she has roots in Kerala, growing up in Abu Dhabi exposed her to a different cultural environment, while her education and training have remained closely connected to her Indian identity.
What’s Next for Kaziah Liz Mejo?
The national crown is only the beginning of Kaziah’s next challenge. She will now prepare to represent India at the Miss Universe 2026 competition in Puerto Rico this November.
India has previously produced three Miss Universe winners — Sushmita Sen in 1994, Lara Dutta in 2000 and Harnaaz Sandhu in 2021. Kaziah will now have the opportunity to compete for India’s fourth Miss Universe crown on the global stage.
Kaziah Liz Mejo’s Miss Universe India 2026 Journey
- Age: 19
- Hometown: Kerala
- Education: Law student
- Profession: Model
- Special skills: Classical dance, singing and performing arts
- Miss Teen Diva: Winner, 2024
- Miss Teen International: First runner-up, 2025
- Miss Universe Kerala: Winner, 2026
- Miss Universe India: Winner, 2026
- Next competition: Miss Universe 2026, Puerto Rico
A New Chapter Begins
Kaziah Liz Mejo’s journey from a young pageant contestant to Miss Universe India 2026 has been remarkably quick. At 19, she has already built an impressive record across national and international competitions.
Now, with the Indian crown on her head, the Kerala-born law student faces her biggest challenge yet. In November, all eyes will be on Kaziah as she takes the global stage in Puerto Rico, carrying India’s hopes for another Miss Universe victory.