Kaziah Liz Mejo has emerged as one of the biggest new names in India’s pageant scene after winning the Miss Universe India 2026 title at the grand finale in Jaipur on August 23. The 19-year-old from Mavelikkara, Kerala, defeated the other finalists to secure the national crown and earn the opportunity to represent India at the 75th Miss Universe competition in Puerto Rico later this year.
Mejo’s journey to the national title has included success at both state and international pageants. She is also a law student and model with background in classical dance, music and acting.
Who Is Kaziah Liz Mejo?
Kaziah Liz Mejo is a 19-year-old law student and model from Mavelikkara in Kerala. Although her roots are in Kerala, she grew up in Abu Dhabi, UAE, where she attended Emirates National School, St Joseph’s School and Abu Dhabi Indian School. She is currently pursuing law while continuing her modelling and pageant career.
Her interests extend beyond pageantry. According to her Miss Teen Diva profile, Mejo has trained in classical dance for 12 years and is also a singer who can play the violin and drums. She has also explored public speaking and acting.
Kaziah Liz Mejo’s Pageant Journey
Mejo first attracted wider attention in 2024 when she won the Miss Teen Diva title at the age of 17. The official Miss Teen Diva profile identifies her as Miss Teen International India 2024 and notes her ambitions in law, modelling and acting.
In 2025, she represented India at Miss Teen International and finished as the first runner-up. Her performance on the international stage helped establish her as a promising young Indian pageant contestant.
Her next major breakthrough came in 2026 when she won the Miss Universe Kerala title. She then progressed to the national competition and ultimately won Miss Universe India 2026 in Jaipur.
Miss Universe India 2026 Win
Kaziah Liz Mejo was crowned Miss Universe India 2026 at the grand finale in Jaipur on August 23. Reports on the competition place her among a field of more than 50 finalists, with Tamil Nadu’s Vaishnavi Gannesh finishing as first runner-up and Gujarat’s Anushri Satavlekar taking the second runner-up position.
The finale featured a high-profile judging panel led by former Miss Universe Sushmita Sen, with Urvashi Rautela and Celina Jaitley also serving as judges. Mejo’s victory makes her the first Keralite to win the Miss Universe India title, according to reports published after the finale.
Her Background In Acting, Dance And Music
Pageantry is only one part of Mejo’s career. Her official Miss Teen Diva profile says she began classical dance training at a young age and has spent 12 years developing the discipline. She also sings and plays the violin and drums.
Mejo has also worked in Malayalam cinema. She made her acting debut with the Malayalam film ‘Shylock’, a detail confirmed in recent reports about her Miss Universe India victory.
From Insecurity To Pageant Stage
Before becoming a pageant winner, Mejo has spoken publicly about struggling with insecurity over her appearance and personality during her teenage years. In an interview following her Miss Universe Kerala victory, she described a period when she lacked confidence and said that deliberate personal development helped her become more comfortable with herself.
She has also discussed growing up in Abu Dhabi and the pressure young people can face from unrealistic beauty standards online. Her comments have added a personal dimension to her public profile beyond the traditional beauty-pageant narrative.
What Is Next For Kaziah Liz Mejo?
Mejo’s next major assignment will be the 75th Miss Universe competition in Puerto Rico. The Miss Universe Organization has officially confirmed that the 2026 final will take place on November 24 at the Coliseo de Puerto Rico José Miguel Agrelot in San Juan.
The 2026 edition is particularly significant because it marks the 75th anniversary of Miss Universe. The official schedule includes the National Costume Show on November 21 and the preliminary competition on November 22 before the November 24 final.
Mejo will therefore move from the national pageant stage to one of the world’s biggest international beauty competitions, where she will compete for India at a landmark edition of Miss Universe.
Disclaimer: This article is based on information available from official pageant sources and reliable reports as of August 24, 2026. Personal details, social media figures and other biographical information can change over time. Any information about Mejo’s future performance at Miss Universe 2026 is prospective and should not be treated as a confirmed result.