Kaziah Liz Mejo Crowned Miss Universe India 2026 in Jaipur

Kaziah Liz Mejo has been crowned Miss Universe India 2026, securing her place as the winner among 52 contenders in a grand finale held in Jaipur on 23 August. The pageant saw Mejo emerge victorious following a comprehensive selection process that considered approximately 9,000 candidates, involving regional state contests, final auditions, and wildcard entries.

As a result of her win, Kaziah will represent India at the 75th Miss Universe pageant, which is scheduled for November in Puerto Rico. The 19-year-old law student and model, hailing from Mavelikkara in Kerala, previously gained experience as a contestant at Miss Teen International 2025, where she finished as the first runner-up.

The jury for the grand finale was comprised of notable figures, including former Miss Universe India winners Sushmita Sen, the inaugural Indian Miss Universe in 1994, and Celina Jaitly, Miss Universe India 2001. Other jury members included Urvashi Rautela, Miss Universe India 2015; Rhea Singha, Miss Universe India 2024; film producer Pragya Kapoor; and dermatologist Dr Stuti Khare Shukla.

The event, hosted at Zee Studios in Jaipur, marked the culmination of months of auditions, grooming sessions, and preliminary competitions, as finalists participated in various events leading up to the finale. These included a sashing ceremony and competitions in speech and swimsuit categories.

Miss Universe India serves as the national platform for selecting India’s representative for the global Miss Universe contest. The Glamanand Group took over the franchise in 2024, with the first edition under their management crowning Rhea Singha.

With Kaziah Liz Mejo's ascent to the national title, attention is now focused on her upcoming preparations for the international competition. As she gears up for the global stage, she will further hone her skills and techniques in advance of competing for the coveted Miss Universe crown.