JAIPUR: At 19, legislation scholar Kaziah Liz Mejo has been topped Miss Universe India 2026, marking a brand new chapter within the journey of the Kerala-born magnificence who spent her adolescence within the UAE.Born in 2007, Mejo grew up in Abu Dhabi, the place she accomplished her education at Emirates Nationwide College, St Joseph’s College and Abu Dhabi Indian College.Her years within the UAE uncovered her to a various, multicultural atmosphere, an expertise she has credited with serving to form her confidence, communication expertise and outlook.
From Abu Dhabi to the nationwide crown
Mejo was topped Miss Universe India 2026 at a grand finale held at Zee Studios in Jaipur on August 23.She emerged the winner from a discipline of 52 nationwide finalists, succeeding Miss Universe India 2025 Manika Vishwakarma, who handed on the crown in the course of the finale, information company ANI reported.Talking to ANI, Mejo stated, “I really feel so on high of the world. That is such an iconic second, and the second that I’ve labored for over three years now.”“I’m so extremely completely satisfied that I get to deliver residence this crown to my Kerala to have the ability to present my hometown to the world and carry it to the universe,” she added.The Glamanand Group, which manages the Miss Universe India Organisation, introduced the highest 5 placements following the competitors.Tamil Nadu’s Vaishnavi Gannesh was named the primary runner-up and was additionally topped Miss Worldwide India 2026.Anushri Satavlekar of Gujarat completed because the second runner-up, whereas Maharashtra’s Tejaswini Shrivastava and Uttarakhand’s Anubha Vashisth have been named the third and fourth runners-up, respectively.
A panel of former magnificence queens
The judging panel included Bollywood actor and India’s first Miss Universe, Sushmita Sen; actress and former Miss Universe India, Urvashi Rautela; Miss Universe India 2024 Rhea Singha; and environmentalist and movie producer Pragya Kapoor.Former Miss India Universe and Miss Universe Runner-up, Celina Jaitly, was additionally a part of the choice course of.The contestants have been evaluated on confidence, eloquence and stage presence in the course of the competitors.
What’s subsequent for Kaziah?
Following her nationwide title, Mejo will start preparations for the worldwide Miss Universe competitors.She is ready to symbolize India on the seventy fifth Miss Universe pageant, scheduled to happen in San Juan, Puerto Rico, in November 2026.(With company inputs)
