India Has a New Pageant Star: Kaziah Liz Mejo Wins Miss Universe India 2026
A new name has entered India’s pageant history.Kaziah Liz Mejo, a 19-year-old law student, model and performer from Mavelikkara, Kerala, has been crowned Miss Universe India 2026, emerging victorious from a field of 53 contestants at the grand finale in Jaipur on Sunday.Her win marks a milestone for Kerala, as Kaziah becomes the first Keralite to claim the Miss Universe India title.The victory also comes with an extraordinary opportunity. Kaziah will now represent India at the 75th Miss Universe pageant, scheduled to be held in Puerto Rico in November 2026.From Teen Pageant Star to National QueenKaziah’s journey to the crown began well before Sunday’s finale. At just 17, she won the Miss Teen Diva 2024 title before representing India at Miss Teen International 2025, where she finished as the first runner-up.Earlier this year, she added another milestone to her growing pageant résumé by winning Miss Universe Kerala 2026, becoming the youngest state titleholder. Now, at 19, she has taken the biggest step yet.More Than Just a Pageant WinnerBehind the crown is a young woman with a strikingly diverse portfolio. According to the Miss Teen Diva website, Kaziah has undergone 12 years of classical dance training. She is also a singer and can play both the drums and violin.Her talents extend to the screen as well. She made her acting debut in the Malayalam film Shylock and is also a public speaker.Born in 2007, Kaziah grew up in Abu Dhabi, UAE, where she attended Emirates National School, St Joseph’s School and Abu Dhabi Indian School. She is currently pursuing law while building a career in modelling and entertainment.A Star-Studded FinaleThe Jaipur finale brought together some of the biggest names in India’s pageant world.The jury was led by former Miss Universe Sushmita Sen, alongside Urvashi Rautela, Miss Universe India 2015, and Celina Jaitley, Miss Universe India 2001.Vaishnavi Gannesh of Tamil Nadu emerged as the first runner-up, while Anushri Satavlekar of Gujarat was crowned Miss International India 2026 as the second runner-up.Last year’s winner, Manika Vishwakarma, who represented India at the international Miss Universe pageant, returned this year to crown the new winners.Can She Bring Home the Crown?India has a proud Miss Universe legacy, with Sushmita Sen (1994), Lara Dutta (2000) and Harnaaz Sandhu (2021) having won the coveted international title. Now, all eyes are on Kaziah.At just 19, Kerala’s newest pageant star has already made history. The next chapter will unfold on the global stage in Puerto Rico.