Kaziah Liz Mejo Crowned Miss Universe India 2026: All You Need To Know About The 19-Year-Old Law Student
Kaziah Liz Mejo, a 19-year-old law student and model from Kerala, has been crowned Miss Universe India 2026. She won the national title at the grand finale held at Zee Studios in Jaipur on August 23, emerging victorious from a field of 52 finalists.
With the win, Kaziah has secured the opportunity to represent India at the 75th Miss Universe pageant, which is scheduled to take place in Puerto Rico in November 2026. She was crowned by outgoing Miss Universe India titleholder Manika Vishwakarma.
Who Is Kaziah Liz Mejo?
Kaziah hails from Mavelikkara in Kerala and is pursuing law studies while also working as a model. Reports say she was raised in Abu Dhabi before continuing her studies in Bengaluru. Her journey in beauty pageants began several years ago, and she has already accumulated international experience at a young age.
Her latest victory is particularly significant for Kerala as she has become the first Keralite to win the Miss Universe India title.
Earlier Pageant Achievements
Miss Universe India 2026 is not Kaziah's first major pageant success. She won the Miss Teen Diva 2024 title at the age of 17. She subsequently represented India at Miss Teen International 2025, where she finished as the first runner-up. Earlier in 2026, she also won Miss Universe Kerala, becoming the youngest state titleholder.
These achievements helped establish her as a prominent young name in India's pageant circuit before she entered the national competition.
Kaziah's Acting Connection
Apart from modelling and pageantry, Kaziah has also been associated with the entertainment industry. She made her acting debut with the Malayalam film Shylock, adding another dimension to her growing career.
She is also described as a trained classical dancer, with reports highlighting her interests and abilities in performing arts alongside her academic pursuits.
Who Were The Runners-Up?
Vaishnavi Gannesh from Tamil Nadu was named the first runner-up and also received the Miss International India 2026 title. Anushri Satavlekar from Gujarat finished as the second runner-up.
The competition brought together finalists from across the country after a selection process involving auditions, regional pageants and other entries.
Next Stop: Puerto Rico
Kaziah's biggest challenge now lies ahead. She will represent India at the Miss Universe 2026 competition in Puerto Rico in November. Her national victory has placed her among the country's latest representatives on one of the world's most prominent beauty-pageant stages.
At just 19, Kaziah Liz Mejo's journey from Kerala's Mavelikkara region to the national crown marks a significant achievement. With her background in law, modelling, pageantry and performing arts, she will now prepare for the international stage and compete for India's next Miss Universe crown.
