Youngest winner under the current franchise and first from Kerala in this era is set to compete on the global stage in Puerto Rico

Jaipur: Nineteen-year-old Kaziah Liz Mejo from Mavelikkara, Kerala, won the Miss Universe India 2026 title at a grand ceremony held at Zee Studios in Jaipur on Sunday night. Reigning Miss Universe India Manika Vishwakarma crowned her successor in front of a packed audience and a high-profile jury. The win marks the third edition of the national pageant under the Glamanand Group.

Mejo was the youngest contestant in this year’s competition and became the first woman from Kerala to win the title in the current franchise era. She will now represent India at the 75th Miss Universe pageant in San Juan, Puerto Rico, in November 2026.

She won the national title after competing against 51 other finalists. Organisers selected the finalists from around 8,000 to 9,000 aspirants. Her victory has quickly made her one of the most searched names in India.

Who Is Kaziah Liz Mejo? Age, Hometown and Early Life

Kaziah Liz Mejo was born in 2007 and comes from Mavelikkara in Kerala’s Alappuzha district. She spent much of her childhood in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. She studied at Emirates National School, the all-girls St. Joseph’s School and later Abu Dhabi Indian School during her senior years.

Mejo has said that she always felt at home in Abu Dhabi, even though she changed schools several times.

At the age of 17, she independently decided to return to India. She wanted to connect more closely with the everyday realities of the country she would later represent on the international stage.

She currently pursues a law degree, reportedly in Bengaluru, while managing her demanding pageant commitments. Her parents and sister have also played an important role in supporting her journey.

Multi-Talented Beyond the Crown: Dance, Music, Martial Arts and Acting

Mejo brings several talents to the pageant world beyond her achievements as a beauty queen.

She started learning classical dance in Abu Dhabi in 2012. Over the past 13 years, she has trained in five classical dance forms. She also plays the violin and drums and has received training in singing and other performance disciplines.

Her skills also extend to martial arts. She holds a brown belt in karate and has trained in kalaripayattu, the traditional martial art of Kerala.

Mejo also entered the film industry with her screen debut in the Malayalam movie Shylock. On Instagram, where she has more than 40,000 followers, she describes herself as a “model – actor – dancer.”

Her academic goals, artistic training and physical discipline have helped her develop a confident yet approachable personality.

The Pageant Journey: From Teen Titles to the National Crown

Mejo started her competitive pageant journey only a few years ago.

In 2024, she won the Miss Teen Diva title. The victory gave her an opportunity to compete on international platforms.

In 2025, she represented India at Miss Teen International and finished as the first runner-up. Although the result initially made her question her path, she used the experience to strengthen her determination.

In 2026, Mejo won the Miss Universe Kerala title and became the youngest winner of that state crown. She then advanced to the national competition as Kerala’s official representative.

On August 23, she competed against 51 other finalists, taking the total number of finalists to 52. The group included 31 state and Union Territory winners, 20 wildcards and one NRI entrant. Mejo ultimately emerged as the winner.

Overcoming Insecurity: Harnaaz Sandhu Became Her Inspiration

Mejo has openly spoken about her struggles with body image and confidence.

She has said that she once avoided taking unfiltered pictures because she felt insecure about her appearance and personality. She worked deliberately on her communication skills, personality and appearance and adopted the mindset of “fake it till you make it.”

Miss Universe 2021 Harnaaz Sandhu became one of her biggest inspirations.

Mejo became interested in pageantry after watching Sandhu win the Miss Universe title after a 20-year gap for India. She has said that Sandhu’s resilience, especially her ability to handle criticism and public scrutiny after her victory, inspired her to accept herself.

Mejo has also said that watching Sandhu remain true to herself encouraged her to do the same.

Advocacy and Purpose: Menstrual Hygiene, Education and Empowerment

Mejo also uses her platform to support social causes.

She advocates sustainable menstrual hygiene and has worked as a brand ambassador for eco-friendly sanitary products. She has spoken about the importance of breaking menstrual taboos and ensuring that women can manage menstruation with dignity.

Education also remains one of her key areas of interest. She believes that no child should have to choose between food and education.

In 2025, she delivered a TEDx talk titled “The Power of Believing Before Becoming.” During the talk, she shared personal experiences and explained how mindset can help people turn their potential into reality.

These causes add a strong social purpose to her national title as she prepares to represent India globally.

The Crowning Night and Full Results

The grand finale at Zee Studios featured several rounds, including swimsuit, evening gown, speech and question-and-answer segments.

The organisers held several preliminary events across Jaipur, Indore, Bengaluru and New Delhi. These events included a sashing ceremony, gala, swimsuit competition and cultural evenings.

Final Placements

• Miss Universe India 2026: Kaziah Liz Mejo — Kerala
• 1st Runner-up and Miss International India 2026: Vaishnavi Gannesh — Tamil Nadu
• 2nd Runner-up: Anushri Satavlekar — Gujarat
• 3rd Runner-up: Tejaswini Shrivastava — Maharashtra
• 4th Runner-up: Anubha Vashisht — Uttarakhand

The organisers also awarded additional international titles among the finalists for the first time under the current format.

The Star-Studded Judging Panel

Sushmita Sen, who became India’s first Miss Universe in 1994, led the judging panel.

The jury also included Celina Jaitly, Miss Universe India 2001; Urvashi Rautela, Miss Universe India 2015; Rhea Singha, Miss Universe India 2024; environmentalist and producer Pragya Kapoor; entrepreneur Visha Ladhia; Miss Charm 2025 Anna Blanco; dermatologist Dr Stuti Khare Shukla; and other prominent personalities.

What Happens Next: Mejo’s Road to Puerto Rico

Mejo will now begin intensive preparations for the Miss Universe competition. Her training will cover styling, fitness, public speaking, media interaction and national representation.

The Glamanand Group has managed the Miss Universe India Organisation since 2024. The organisation previously crowned Rhea Singha as Miss Universe India 2024 and Manika Vishwakarma as the 2025 winner.

The organisation will now prepare Mejo for the international competition in Puerto Rico in November.

After winning the title, Mejo said she felt “on top of the world” after working toward this moment for more than three years.

She also described the title as both an achievement and a responsibility. She said representing India on an international platform filled her with pride and gave her an opportunity to showcase India’s diversity, culture, talent and the strength of its new generation to the world.

Why This Win Matters

At just 19, Mejo represents a new generation of Indian pageant contestants. She combines academic ambitions with artistic skills, social awareness and the confidence to speak openly about her struggles.

Her journey from classrooms in Abu Dhabi and teenage insecurities to the national crown in Jaipur reflects resilience, determination, diaspora roots and Kerala pride.

Now, as she prepares to compete at the Miss Universe stage in Puerto Rico, India will watch a young law student who has already turned a teenage dream into a national title.

For Kaziah Liz Mejo, the journey has only just begun.