Kaziah Liz Mejo from Kerala has been crowned Miss Universe India 2026, claiming the national title at the grand finale held in Jaipur on Sunday, August 23.
The 19-year-old law student and model stood out from a field of 52 finalists to take the crown. Her win means she will now carry India’s flag to the 75th Miss Universe pageant in Puerto Rico in November — one of the most prestigious stages in international pageantry.
This isn’t Kaziah’s first time competing internationally. She previously represented India at Miss Teen International 2025, where she finished as the first runner-up — experience that has clearly shaped the competitor who walked away with the national title in Jaipur.
Who Is Kaziah Liz Mejo?
Kaziah Liz Mejo is a 19-year-old from Mavelikkara, Kerala, currently pursuing a degree in law alongside her modelling career. She first gained national pageant attention through her first runner-up finish at Miss Teen International 2025, which brought her into the spotlight before this year’s Miss Universe India competition.
The national crown is a significant leap — from a strong international runner-up finish to the biggest national stage in India — and at 19, it positions her as one of the younger contestants to have claimed this title.
Kaziah Liz Mejo Wins Against 52 Finalists
The Miss Universe India 2026 finale was a competitive field. Fifty-two finalists from across the country came together in Jaipur for the grand finale, and after multiple rounds of competition, Kaziah emerged as the winner.
Vaishnavi Gannesh from Tamil Nadu finished as first runner-up and also received the Miss International India 2026 title. Anushri Satavlekar from Gujarat was named second runner-up.
From Thousands of Aspirants to 52 Finalists
The 52 finalists represent the tip of a very large pyramid. Organisers noted that roughly 8,000 to 9,000 aspirants were considered across the entire selection process, with contestants reaching the final stage through regional state pageants, open auditions, wildcard entries and an NRI category.
Once in the finale, contestants moved through several rounds designed to test a range of qualities — a sashing ceremony, introduction and speech rounds, a gala event, and a swimsuit competition. Each stage allowed contestants to demonstrate confidence, communication, and how they carry themselves under pressure.
Who Were the Judges at Miss Universe India 2026?
The judging panel for the 2026 finale was particularly meaningful given its composition.
Leading the jury was Sushmita Sen, who, in 1994, became the first Indian woman to win the Miss Universe title — a moment that changed the history of the pageant in India. Her role as head judge gave the occasion a historical dimension that wasn’t lost on anyone in the room.
The panel also included Celina Jaitly (Miss Universe India 2001) and Urvashi Rautela (Miss Universe India 2015), alongside Rhea Singha (Miss Universe India 2024), film producer Pragya Kapoor, entrepreneur Visha Ladhia, Miss Charm 2025 Anna Blanco and dermatologist Dr Stuti Khare Shukla.
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What Happens Next for Kaziah?
Winning the national crown opens the door to the next and bigger challenge. Kaziah will now represent India at the 75th Miss Universe pageant in Puerto Rico in November, competing against contestants from countries around the world.
In the months between now and the international competition, she will go through intensive preparation — interview training, public speaking, stage presence, fitness and all the other elements that go into competing at the highest level of international pageantry.
Her first runner-up finish at Miss Teen International 2025 gives her something valuable here: she already knows what it feels like to compete internationally, to stand on a global stage and to handle that kind of pressure. That experience could prove genuinely useful when she arrives in Puerto Rico.
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What Is Miss Universe India?
Miss Universe India is the national competition through which India selects its representative for the global Miss Universe pageant.
The Glamanand Group has organised the national franchise since 2024. Rhea Singha won the inaugural edition under the new franchise, followed by Manika Vishwakarma in 2025. Kaziah Liz Mejo is now the third winner under the current franchise and carries forward a growing legacy for the competition in India.
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Kaziah Liz Mejo’s Journey to the Miss Universe India Crown
What makes Kaziah’s story worth following is the combination of youth, international experience and national recognition all converging at 19. Most people her age are figuring out what they want to do — she’s already done it at two different levels of international competition.
The runner-up finish at Miss Teen International wasn’t a footnote. It was preparation. And from the outside at least, it looks like it worked.
The next chapter is Puerto Rico in November. With the national crown secured and the preparation ahead of her, all eyes in Indian pageantry are now on Kaziah Liz Mejo as she gets ready to represent the country on one of the biggest stages in the world.