A new chapter in India’s pageant journey has begun, and it belongs to Kaziah Liz Mejo. The 19-year-old from Mavelikkara, Alappuzha, Kerala, was crowned Miss Universe India 2026 in Jaipur, with reigning titleholder Manika Vishwakarma passing the crown to her successor.
Mejo will now represent India at the 75th Miss Universe competition in Puerto Rico in November, taking her from the national pageant stage to an international platform.
Who is Kaziah Liz Mejo?
Born in 2007, Mejo reportedly grew up in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, where she completed her schooling at Emirates National School, St Joseph’s School and Abu Dhabi Indian School. While her academic journey has taken her towards law, she has also built a strong interest in the performing arts.
Her connection with the stage began early. Mejo started classical dance training in Abu Dhabi in 2012 and later developed her skills across multiple creative fields. She plays both the violin and drums, and is also a singer, dancer and model.
From Miss Teen to Miss Universe India
According to reports, Mejo's pageant journey began in 2024, when she won the Miss Teen Diva title. The victory opened the door to the international pageant circuit.
In 2025, she represented India at Miss Teen International, where she finished as the first runner-up. A year later, she made the leap from the teen pageant stage to become Miss Universe Kerala and now Miss Universe India 2026.
Beyond pageantry, Mejo is also an advocate for sustainability in menstrual hygiene, adding a social cause to her growing public profile.
