3 min learnNew DelhiUp to date: Aug 24, 2026 11:18 AM IST
Kaziah Liz Mejo of Kerala has been topped Miss Universe India 2026, rising from 53 contestants on the prestigious pageant finale held in Jaipur on Sunday. Vaishnavi Gannesh from Tamil Nadu grew to become the first runner-up, whereas Anushri Satavlekar from Gujarat bagged the Miss Worldwide India 2026 title because the 2nd runner-up. Mejo will now signify India on the seventy fifth Miss Universe pageant, scheduled for November in Puerto Rico.
Who’s Kaziah Liz Mejo?
Mejo, a 19-year-old legislation scholar and mannequin from Mavelikkara, beforehand represented India at Miss Teen Worldwide 2025, the place she completed as first runner-up. In accordance with the Miss Teen Diva’s official web site, {the teenager} isn’t just a professionally educated classical dancer of 12 years, she additionally sings and might play the drums and the violin. Mejo started her appearing profession with the Mollywood movie ‘Shylock’, and in addition identifies as a public speaker.
Born in 2007, Mejo grew up in Abu Dhabi, UAE and accomplished her education at Emirates Nationwide Faculty, St Joseph’s Faculty and Abu Dhabi Indian Faculty. Right this moment, she made historical past as the primary Keralite to win the Miss Universe India title.
Mejo’s pageant accolades embrace successful Miss Teen Diva 2024 on the age of 17, adopted by bagging the primary runner up prize at Miss Teen Worldwide 2025. Earlier this yr, she additionally received Miss Universe Kerala 2026, and was topped because the youngest state titleholder.
The 2026 finale of Miss Universe India featured a distinguished jury panel, led by former Miss Universe Sushmita Sen, together with earlier titleholders Urvashi Rautela (Miss Universe India 2015) and Celina Jaitley (Miss Universe India 2001).
Final yr, Manika Vishwakarma was topped Miss Universe India, who then went on to signify the nation on the worldwide Miss Universe pageant. This yr, she was the one crowning the emergent victors on the pageant finale.
India has a notable historical past on the worldwide stage of Miss Universe, producing a number of winners who went on to grow to be world icons. Actually, our nation has three title winners and ranks within the High 10 Miss Universe winners record:
Sushmita Sen (1994) – the primary Indian to win Miss Universe.
Lara Dutta (2000) – the second Indian Miss Universe.
Harnaaz Sandhu (2021) – third crown for India after twenty years.
