Nineteen-year-old Kaziah Liz Mejo from Mavelikkara, Kerala, was crowned Miss Universe India 2026 at the grand finale held at Zee Studios in Jaipur on August 23. She emerged as the winner from a field of 53 contestants, becoming the first Keralite to win the national Miss Universe India title.
A law student and model, Mejo will now represent India at the 75th Miss Universe pageant in Puerto Rico in November 2026. Tamil Nadu’s Vaishnavi Gannesh was named first runner-up and will represent India at Miss International 2026, while Gujarat’s Anushri Satavlekar finished second runner-up. Mejo succeeds Miss Universe India 2025 Manika Vishwakarma.
From Mavelikkara To Abu Dhabi
Born in 2007, Mejo is from Mavelikkara in Kerala’s Alappuzha district and grew up in Abu Dhabi, UAE. She completed her schooling at Emirates National School, St Joseph’s School and Abu Dhabi Indian School. She is currently pursuing law while also working as a model.
Her interests, however, extend beyond academics and modelling. Mejo has received 12 years of classical dance training and is also a singer and musician who plays the violin and drums. She has explored public speaking and acting as well, making her acting debut in the Malayalam film Shylock. Her diverse interests have accompanied her pageant journey, which began while she was still a teenager.
A Pageant Journey Built Over Years
Mejo won the Miss Teen Diva 2024 title at the age of 17, marking her first major pageant breakthrough. She subsequently represented India at Miss Teen International 2025, where she finished as first runner-up. Earlier in 2026, she won Miss Universe Kerala, becoming the youngest state titleholder.
Her progression from teen pageantry to the national Miss Universe India crown has therefore unfolded over several years rather than being an overnight success. Her earlier international placement also gave her experience of representing India on a global platform before she took on the country’s national Miss Universe title.
Making History In Jaipur
The Miss Universe India 2026 finale brought together contestants from across the country, with Mejo eventually emerging at the top. The jury included former Miss Universe Sushmita Sen, former Miss Universe India titleholders Urvashi Rautela and Celina Jaitly, Miss Universe India 2024 Rhea Singha and film producer Pragya Kapoor. Manika Vishwakarma, who won the national title in 2025, crowned Mejo as her successor.
Mejo’s victory gives Kerala its first Miss Universe India winner. Tamil Nadu’s Vaishnavi Gannesh was named first runner-up and will represent India at Miss International 2026. Gujarat’s Anushri Satavlekar finished second runner-up, while Maharashtra’s Tejaswini Shrivastava and Uttarakhand’s Anubha Vashisth completed the top five.
India’s Next Miss Universe Representative
With the national crown secured, Mejo’s next challenge will be the 75th Miss Universe pageant in Puerto Rico in November. She will carry India’s hopes at the international competition, following the country’s previous Miss Universe winners Sushmita Sen in 1994, Lara Dutta in 2000 and Harnaaz Sandhu in 2021.
For Mejo, the international stage will also represent another step in a pageant journey that has already taken her from winning a national teen title at 17 to finishing as an international first runner-up and becoming Kerala’s youngest Miss Universe Kerala titleholder. Her latest victory now places her among India’s contenders for another global Miss Universe crown.
The Logical Indian’s Perspective
Kaziah Liz Mejo’s journey reflects how confidence and achievement can grow through sustained effort, discipline and the willingness to pursue different interests. Her story extends beyond a pageant crown, encompassing law, dance, music, acting, public speaking and international competition. As she prepares to represent India globally, her journey can also encourage young people to define success on their own terms and develop their abilities across different fields.
What qualities do you think matter most when a young achiever steps onto an international platform representing India?
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