Kaziah Liz Mejo was crowned Miss Universe India 2026 on Aug. 23 during a finale held in Jaipur [4, 5].
Mejo's victory marks a historic milestone for her home state, as she is the first representative from Kerala to win the national title [6, 11].
The 19-year-old [1] law student and model from Mavelikkara outperformed a field of competitors at Zee Studios [5, 6]. While reports on the exact number of contestants vary, she defeated between 51 and 52 other finalists [2, 3].
Mejo will now represent India at the 75th Miss Universe pageant [7], which is scheduled to take place in Puerto Rico in November 2026 [8, 9].
This win follows a series of competitive achievements for the young model. She previously won the title of Miss Teen Diva 2024 [15], and served as the first runner-up at Miss Teen International 2025 [16].
“The first representative from Kerala to win the title”
Mejo's win reflects a broadening geographic diversity in India's national beauty pageants, shifting the spotlight toward southern states like Kerala. Her background as a law student also aligns with a modern pageant trend of emphasizing academic achievement alongside traditional modeling and poise.
