Kaziah Liz Mejo, who won Miss Universe India 2026 has officially taken stage as India’s next global beauty ambassador. At a celebration of poise, intellect and grace Kaziah Liz Mejo, a 19‑year‑old law student and professional model from Mavelikkara, Kerala was crowned at the national finale on Sunday, August 23 2026.
The event was held at the state‑of‑the‑art Zee Studios in the Pink City of Jaipur, Rajasthan. Kaziah Liz Mejo outshone 52 finalists from across the country. Kaziah Liz Mejo’s emotional victory marks a moment in Kaziah Liz Mejo’s career. Kaziah Liz Mejo is now preparing to carry the tricolor to the Miss Universe pageant, in Puerto Rico this coming November.
Who is Kaziah Liz Mejo? From Kerala to the Global Stage
Kaziah Liz Mejo grew up in the town of Mavelikkara, Kerala. Today Kaziah Liz Mejo shows how she can balance her school books with the world of pageants. Even though she is 19 years old Kaziah Liz Mejo handles a hard law degree while working as a professional model.
Winning in Jaipur was not her time in the global spotlight. In 2025 Kaziah Liz Mejo went to the Miss Teen International pageant to represent India. She finished as the first runner-up. That time spent on the stage really helped Kaziah Liz Mejo stay calm during the stressful 2026 national finale.
You could really see her law student side during the interview rounds. Kaziah Liz Mejo spoke clearly and stayed calm which helped Kaziah Liz Mejo win over the judges. Her friends and mentors home say that Kaziah Liz Mejo is great, at balancing her long study hours with her tough runway practice and public speaking lessons.
Complete Results: Winners and Placements
While Kaziah took the top honor, the national finale showcased talent from across the country. The official top placements include:
| Placement Position | Contestant Name | Representing State / Title Awarded |
| Winner | Kaziah Liz Mejo | Kerala (Miss Universe India 2026) |
| 1st Runner-Up | Vaishnavi Gannesh | Tamil Nadu (Miss International India 2026) |
| 2nd Runner-Up | Anushri Satavlekar | Gujarat |
| 3rd Runner-Up | Tejaswini Shrivastava | Maharashtra |
| 4th Runner-Up | Anubha Shisth | Uttarakhand |
First runner-up Vaishnavi Gannesh from Tamil Nadu earned the title of Miss International India 2026, earning her own ticket to represent the country on an international stage.
The Star-Studded Panel of Judges
Selecting a winner from 52 exceptional delegates required a seasoned panel of industry experts. The 2026 grand finale featured a jury packed with pageant royalty and fashion leaders:
Sushmita Sen (Jury Leader): India’s pioneer who brought home the first Miss Universe crown in 1994.
Celina Jaitly: Miss Universe India 2001 and 4th Runner-Up at Miss Universe 2001.
Urvashi Rautela: Miss Universe India 2015 and seasoned actress.
Rhea Singha: Miss Universe India 2024 winner.
Pragya Kapoor: Noted film producer and environmental advocate.
Visha Ladhia: Successful entrepreneur and creative lead.
Anna Blanco: International pageant titleholder (Miss Charm 2025).
Dr. Stuti Khare Shukla: Leading aesthetic dermatologist.
Sushmita Sen’s presence as head of the jury added immense emotional weight to the coronation, bridging India’s rich pageant heritage directly to its newest standard-bearer.
Inside the Selection Process: How 9,000 Aspirants Were Screened
The path to the Jaipur stage was long and grueling. Organizers confirmed that roughly 8,000 to 9,000 applicants submitted entries for the 2026 season.
Selection Stages
Regional & State Pageants: Local preliminary competitions held across Indian states to discover grassroots talent.
Open Auditions: Nationwide casting calls designed to find promising newcomers.
Wildcard Entries & NRI Category: Targeted rounds providing opportunities for non-resident Indian candidates and late-entry standouts.
Bootcamp & Preliminaries: The final 52 delegates went through weeks of intensive grooming in Jaipur, completing sashing ceremonies, swimwear assessments, closed-door jury interviews, and introduction showcases.
The Glamanand Era of Miss Universe India
The national pageant operates under the stewardship of the Glamanand Group, which secured the official Miss Universe franchise rights in India in 2024.
Under Glamanand’s leadership, the organization restructured the selection framework to emphasize international readiness, structured bootcamps, and comprehensive media training.
2024: Rhea Singha took the inaugural crown of the new era.
2025: Manika Vishwakarma succeeded her, carrying India’s flag on the international stage.
2026: Kaziah Liz Mejo becomes the third winner crowned under this management structure.
The Road to Puerto Rico: What Lies Ahead for Kaziah
With the national title locked in Kaziahs attention quickly turns to the Miss Universe Pageant, which will take place in November 2026 in Puerto Rico.
In the weeks she will follow a tough training plan guided by top fashion designers, public speaking coaches and fitness professionals. Her schedule will include:
- Custom Wardrobe Design: Working with Indian couture designers to create her evening gown and national costume for the competition.
- Q&A & Advocacy Training: Improving her social initiative pitch. Getting better at responding to questions during global broadcasts.
- Stage Presence & Walk: Learning from runway mentors to improve her movement and confidence on the global stage.
With her law school discipline, experience in teen pageants and a strong team supporting her Kaziah Liz Mejo moves forward to the Puerto Rico competition carrying the hopes of millions of fans, in India.