Entertainment Desk | India Prime TV Kerala’s 19-year-old model and law student Kaziah Liz Mejo has won the prestigious Miss Universe India 2026 title. The grand finale was held on the night of August 23, 2026, in Jaipur, Rajasthan.
Kaziah emerged victorious after competing against 52 contestants from across India. The reigning Miss Universe India 2025, Manika Vishwakarma, crowned Kaziah as the new winner.
Who Is Kaziah Liz Mejo?
From Mavelikara, Kerala to the National Beauty Crown
Kaziah Liz Mejo, who hails from Mavelikara in Kerala, has created history by becoming the first woman from the state to win the Miss Universe India national title.
Alongside her modelling career, Kaziah is pursuing her law studies. She developed an interest in fashion and beauty pageants at a young age and began working on her grooming, stage presence and communication skills early in her career.
Kaziah Has Already Won Major Pageant Titles
The Miss Universe India 2026 crown is not Kaziah’s first major achievement.
At just 17, she won the Miss Teen Diva 2024 title. She later represented India at Miss Teen International 2025, where she finished as the First Runner-Up.
Her previous international experience and strong stage presence helped establish her as one of the leading contestants at the Miss Universe India 2026 competition.
Grand Finale Held in Jaipur
The Miss Universe India 2026 grand finale brought together contestants from different parts of the country in Jaipur.
The judges evaluated contestants on more than physical appearance, with confidence, communication skills, intelligence, personality and social awareness also playing an important role.
The competition included several rounds, including the National Costume, Swimwear and Evening Gown rounds, before the final results were announced.
Miss Universe India 2026 Final Results
- Winner: Kaziah Liz Mejo — Kerala
- First Runner-Up: Vaishnavi Ganesh — Tamil Nadu
- Second Runner-Up: Anushree Satwalekar — Gujarat
- Miss International India 2026: Anushree Satwalekar
Anushree Satwalekar will represent India at the Miss International competition.
Kaziah Liz Mejo to Represent India Internationally
Eyes on the Miss Universe Global Stage
Following her national victory, Kaziah’s next major challenge will be representing India at the 75th Miss Universe competition, scheduled to take place in Puerto Rico in November 2026.
Her victory has once again put India’s beauty-pageant journey in the spotlight, following the country’s previous Miss Universe winners, including Sushmita Sen, Lara Dutta and Harnaaz Sandhu.
Kaziah is expected to represent not only Indian fashion and culture but also India’s diversity and the aspirations of its younger generation on the international stage.
Kaziah Gets Emotional After Winning the Crown
Following her coronation, Kaziah reportedly became emotional while speaking about her achievement.
She credited her parents and mentors for supporting her journey.
She also expressed her ambition to use the international platform to showcase India’s rich culture, diversity and the strength and aspirations of Indian women.
Sushmita Sen and Urvashi Rautela Among the Jury
Star-Studded Panel at the Jaipur Finale
The grand finale featured prominent personalities from India’s fashion and entertainment industry as members of the jury.
Former Miss Universe Sushmita Sen, who won the Miss Universe title for India in 1994, was part of the judging panel.
Bollywood actress and former beauty-pageant contestant Urvashi Rautela was also among the prominent jury members. Actress and former Miss Universe First Runner-Up Celina Jaitly was also part of the panel.
The jury evaluated the contestants on their overall personality, confidence, intelligence and stage performance.
What’s Next for Kaziah Liz Mejo?
With the Miss Universe India 2026 crown now secured, Kaziah’s focus will shift to the international stage.
Her upcoming appearance at the 75th Miss Universe competition in Puerto Rico will give her an opportunity to represent India before a global audience.
For India, the big question now is whether Kaziah can bring home another Miss Universe crown.
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