Miss Universe India 2026: Kaziah Liz Mejo Makes History

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Miss Universe India 2026 Winner: 19-Year-Old Kaziah Liz Mejo from Kerala Makes History – First Keralite to Represent India at 75th Miss Universe

Get ready to be inspired! A 19-year-old law student from Kerala, Kaziah Liz Mejo, has been crowned Miss Universe India 2026. Discover her incredible journey from Abu Dhabi to the national stage and how she’s preparing to represent India at the 75th Miss Universe pageant.

Introduction: Miss Universe India: A Star is Born

In a night filled with glitz and glamour at the Zee Studios in Jaipur, history was made. On August 23, 2026, 19-year-old Kaziah Liz Mejo from Kerala was crowned Miss Universe India 2026. This victory marks a significant moment not just for the young law student but for the entire nation, as she prepares to represent India on the global stage.

The Big Win in Jaipur

The grand finale was a spectacular event where Kaziah competed against 52 national finalists from across India. The competition evaluated contestants on their confidence, eloquence, and stage presence. A prestigious jury panel, including legendary former Miss Universe Sushmita Sen, former Miss Universe India winners Urvashi Rautela and Celina Jaitly, and environmentalist Pragya Kapoor, selected Kaziah as the winner. She was crowned by the outgoing Miss Universe 2025, Manika Vishwakarma.

Following the grand finale, the top five placements were announced:

Winner: Kaziah Liz Mejo (Kerala)
1st Runner-up: Vaishnavi Gannesh (Tamil Nadu)
2nd Runner-up: Anushri Satavlekar (Gujarat), who was also crowned Miss International India 2026
3rd Runner-up: Tejaswini Shrivastava (Maharashtra)
4th Runner-up: Anubha Vashisth (Uttarakhand)

Who is Kaziah Liz Mejo?

A Kerala Girl with a Global Upbringing

Kaziah hails from Mavelikkara in Kerala’s Alappuzha district but was born in 2007 and spent her formative years in Abu Dhabi, UAE. This multicultural exposure, studying at schools like Emirates National School, St Joseph’s School, and Abu Dhabi Indian School, helped shape her confidence and communication skills. She is currently pursuing a law degree in Bengaluru while working as a model.

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More Than Just a Pretty Face

Kaziah is a woman of many talents. Her skills extend far beyond the pageant stage. She is a professionally trained classical dancer of 12 years, a singer, and a musician who can play the drums and the violin. She has also explored public speaking and made her acting debut in the 2020 Malayalam film Shylock, starring Mammootty.

The Journey to the Miss Universe India Crown

Her path to Miss Universe was paved with prior success. She began her pageant journey at 17, winning the Miss Teen Diva 2024 title. She then represented India at Miss Teen International 2025, finishing as the first runner-up. Earlier this year, she won the Miss Universe Kerala 2026 title, becoming the youngest state titleholder, before securing the national crown.

The Winning Moment

The Answer that Sealed the Miss Universe Victory

Kaziah captivated the judges with her response to a question that showcased her grace and presence of mind. The question asked by Rajiv K Shrivastava was: “Can you describe the sound of silence in your life?”

Her answer was a powerful testament to her comfort and confidence on stage:

“To me, silence, I believe, is what I experienced just a few minutes ago. The calm before I enter a stage. I was born and brought up on stage as a classical dancer, as an actor, and, of course, as a pageant lover… I feel silence, and I feel calm, and I feel at my most peaceful self right before I enter a stage because I feel at home. To me, that is silence when you feel at home, when your heart lets you take a deeper breath, when your pulse comes down, and you know that you belong.”

Defining Beauty and Confidence

Her vision of beauty is deeply inspiring. In a video for the Miss Universe pageant, Kaziah described true beauty as being about conviction and courage: “To me, true beauty is about conviction; it’s about courage, the silent decision to rise again and again and to believe before becoming… It means to have the audacity to come back stronger again and again to turn every fear, every failure, and every moment of weakness into unwavering and a burning fire within.”

Inspiration and Looking Ahead

Inspired by Harnaaz Sandhu

Kaziah credits her journey to a moment in 2021 when she watched Harnaaz Sandhu win the Miss Universe crown for India after 20 years. She shared, “The first Miss Universe competition I watched was in 2021, when Harnaaz Sandhu won the crown for India after 20 years. I didn’t know much about pageantry then, but seeing India win sparked something in me.”

Representing India at the 75th Miss Universe Pageant

Following her national victory, Kaziah’s biggest challenge awaits. She will begin preparations to represent the country at the 75th Miss Universe pageant, scheduled to take place in San Juan, Puerto Rico, in November 2026. She is the first Keralite to win the Miss Universe title.

Conclusion: A Future Queen in the Making

Kaziah Liz Mejo’s story is a testament to the power of dreams, hard work, and resilience. From a young girl in Abu Dhabi watching Miss Universe to being crowned Miss Universe India, her journey is nothing short of inspirational. As she prepares for the global stage, she carries with her the hopes of a nation and the pride of Kerala.

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Source of Information: This article is based on reports from major news outlets including India Today, Rediff, ANI, The Times of India, Hindustan Times, and The Indian Express.