Kaziah Liz Mejo, a 19-year-old law student and model from Kerala, has been crowned Miss Universe India 2026, emerging victorious at the national pageant finale in Jaipur on Sunday after outshining 52 contestants. With the coveted crown now hers, Mejo will represent India at the.
Vaishnavi Gannesh of Tamil Nadu was named first runner-up, while Gujarat’s Anushri Satavlekar finished second runner-up and also claimed the Miss International India 2026 title. Hailing from Mavelikkara in Kerala, Mejo is pursuing law alongside her modelling career. Her latest triumph is the newest jewel in a pageant journey that began at a young age.
won the Miss Teen Diva 2024 title at 17. She went on to represent India at Miss Teen International 2025, finishing as first runner-up. Earlier this year, she won Miss Universe Kerala 2026, becoming the youngest state titleholder.
Her national victory has also etched her name in Kerala’s pageant history as the first Keralite to win the Miss Universe India title. Born in 2007, Mejo spent her childhood in Abu Dhabi, UAE. She studied at Emirates National School, St Joseph’s School and Abu Dhabi Indian School.
Alongside her law studies and modelling career, Mejo has cultivated a wide range of talents. According to the official Miss Teen Diva website, she has trained in classical dance for 12 years. She also sings and plays the drums and violin, while having explored public speaking and acting.
Mejo made her acting debut in the Malayalam film Shylock. Mejo’s crowning moment came at a finale judged by some of India’s most prominent pageant personalities. Former Miss Universe Sushmita Sen headed the jury, with former Miss Universe India winners Urvashi Rautela and Celina Jaitley also serving on the panel.
Last year’s Miss Universe India winner, Manika Vishwakarma, who represented India at the international pageant, returned this year to crown the new winners. Now, Mejo faces the grandest chapter of her pageant journey yet. In November, she will travel to Puerto Rico to represent India at the 75th Miss Universe pageant.
