Kerala has a new reason to celebrate. Kaziah Liz Mejo, a 19-year-old law student and model from Mavelikkara, has been crowned Miss Universe India 2026 at the national finale held in Jaipur on Sunday.
Her victory came after competing against contestants from across the country. With the crown, Kaziah has also earned the opportunity to represent India at the 75th Miss Universe pageant, which is scheduled to take place in Puerto Rico in November. She succeeds Manika Vishwakarma, who held the Miss Universe India title in 2025.
“I Feel on Top of the World”
Following her victory, Kaziah expressed her happiness and said she felt “on top of the world” after winning the national title.
For the young beauty queen, the moment marks an important step in a journey that has already included modelling, pageantry, acting and classical dance. Her win is also being celebrated in Kerala as she becomes the first Keralite to win the Miss Universe India title.
Kaziah's journey is particularly interesting because she has already experienced the pressure of an international pageant. In 2025, she represented India at Miss Teen International and finished as the first runner-up.
Who Is Kaziah Liz Mejo?
Born in 2007, Kaziah has roots in Kerala but grew up in Abu Dhabi, UAE. She completed her schooling there before moving ahead with her higher education.
She is currently pursuing law in Bengaluru. Alongside academics, Kaziah has built experience as a model and performer.
Her interests are not limited to pageants. She has trained in classical dance for around 12 years and is also associated with music. Reports say she can sing and play instruments including the drums and violin.
Kaziah Liz Mejo: At a Glance
| Details | Information |
|---|---|
| Name | Kaziah Liz Mejo |
| Age | 19 |
| Hometown | Mavelikkara, Kerala |
| Profession | Law student, model and actress |
| Current Title | Miss Universe India 2026 |
| Previous Achievement | First runner-up, Miss Teen International 2025 |
| Training | Classical dance |
| Raised In | Abu Dhabi, UAE |
| Upcoming Competition | Miss Universe 2026 |
| Venue for Global Pageant | Puerto Rico |
From Miss Teen International to the National Crown
Kaziah's latest achievement did not come out of nowhere.
She previously represented India at Miss Teen International 2025, where she finished as the first runner-up. That experience gave her an early taste of international pageantry and helped her gain confidence in front of a global audience.
Her pageant journey continued in 2026 when she won the Miss Universe Kerala title before competing at the national level.
The Miss Universe India crown now takes that journey to another stage.
A Strong Academic Side
While beauty pageants are now a major part of her public profile, Kaziah is also pursuing a career in law.
Her decision to study law alongside modelling and pageantry gives her profile a different dimension. She has spoken about confidence and personal growth, and her journey from self-doubt to winning a national crown has become one of the more talked-about aspects of her story.
At just 19, she is balancing academics with a demanding career path in the public eye.
Her Acting Connection
Kaziah has also explored acting. She made her film debut in the Malayalam movie Shylock, adding another creative field to her growing profile.
For someone still in her teens, the combination of law, modelling, acting, dance and pageantry makes her journey unusually diverse.
Her new national title could now bring considerably more attention to her work outside the pageant world as well.
Sushmita Sen Was Part of the Judging Panel
The Jaipur finale had several well-known names from the beauty and entertainment industry on the judging panel.
Former Miss Universe Sushmita Sen was among the judges, alongside former beauty queens and other prominent personalities. Urvashi Rautela, Celina Jaitly, Rhea Singha and producer Pragya Kapoor were also associated with the judging process.
Having Sushmita Sen, India's first Miss Universe winner, present at the event added extra significance to Kaziah's victory.
Tamil Nadu’s Vaishnavi Gannesh Finishes First Runner-Up
Kaziah was followed by Vaishnavi Gannesh from Tamil Nadu, who finished as the first runner-up.
Anushri Satavlekar from Gujarat also made her mark, earning recognition as the second runner-up and the Miss International India 2026 title.
The strong performances from contestants representing different states highlighted the growing reach of India's pageant culture.
A Historic Moment for Kerala
Kaziah's victory has particular importance for Kerala.
Although the state has produced several successful models, actors and beauty queens, her national title represents a new milestone. She is being recognised as the first Keralite to win the Miss Universe India crown under the current national pageant system.
Her Kerala roots and upbringing in the UAE also give her story an interesting cultural mix.
India’s Miss Universe Journey Continues
Kaziah will now carry India's hopes at the global Miss Universe competition in Puerto Rico in November.
India has a strong history at Miss Universe, with Sushmita Sen winning in 1994, Lara Dutta taking the crown in 2000 and Harnaaz Sandhu winning in 2021. Kaziah will now have the opportunity to join that prestigious list.
The international competition will, however, bring a completely different level of competition, with contestants from around the world competing for the global title.
From Self-Doubt to a National Crown
Perhaps the most relatable part of Kaziah's story is her journey with confidence.
Reports about her life before the crown describe a young woman who struggled with self-confidence and was once uncomfortable even with unfiltered photographs. Today, she is standing on a national pageant stage with a crown and the responsibility of representing India internationally.
That transformation could become an important part of her public journey as she prepares for the global competition.
What Lies Ahead for Kaziah
Winning Miss Universe India is only the beginning of Kaziah's next chapter.
She now has several months to prepare for the international pageant, where her communication skills, confidence, personality and ability to represent Indian culture will all be under scrutiny.
For a 19-year-old who is still pursuing her law education, it will be a major challenge—but also an opportunity to introduce herself to an international audience.
From Mavelikkara to Abu Dhabi, Bengaluru and now Jaipur, Kaziah Liz Mejo's journey has moved quickly. Her next stop is Puerto Rico, where she will represent India on the Miss Universe stage in November.
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