Kerala's Kaziya Liz Mejo Crowned Miss Universe India 2026; Set to Represent India on the Global Stage
Kaziya Liz Mejo, a 19-year-old from Kerala, won the Miss Universe India 2026 title after defeating 52 other contestants in a competition held in Jaipur. She will represent India at the 75th Miss Universe pageant scheduled to take place in Puerto Rico in November 2026. Vaishnavi Ganesh was named the first runner-up and Miss International India 2026, while other contestants also received various runner-up titles. Kaziya's achievement stands as an inspiring example of self-confidence, determination, persistent effort, and women's empowerment.
Kaziya Liz Mejo, a 19-year-old from Kerala, has won the Miss Universe India 2026 title. She achieved this feat by surpassing 52 other contestants in the national pageant held in Jaipur.
Representing India at Miss Universe 2026
Upon winning the national title, Kaziya Liz Mejo earned the right to represent India at the 75th Miss Universe pageant. This international competition is scheduled to be held in Puerto Rico in November 2026.
Other Key Winners
Vaishnavi Ganesh emerged as the first runner-up in the competition and was awarded the title of Miss International India 2026. Additionally, Anushree Satavalekar, Tejaswini Srivastava, and Anubha Vashishth Chaudhary secured the positions of second, third, and fourth runner-up, respectively.
Distinguished Panel of Judges
The panel of judges included India's first Miss Universe Sushmita Sen, former Miss Universe India Urvashi Rautela, Miss Universe India 2024 Rhea Singha, actress and former Miss Universe runner-up Celina Jaitly, and environmentalist and filmmaker Pragya Kapoor.
A Message of Women's Empowerment and Self-Confidence
Kaziya Liz Mejo's achievement serves as an example of self-confidence, determination, and persistent effort for young women. She secured the national title after nearly three years of preparation, demonstrating that consistent hard work and mental resilience are essential for achieving ambitious goals.
Broad Significance for UPSC
Such achievements are linked to women's empowerment, youth leadership, India's cultural diversity, and the country's soft power on the global stage. Indian representation in international beauty pageants strengthens India's global cultural identity while inspiring the youth towards self-confidence and leadership.
