UAE-Born Kaziah Liz Mejo Claims Miss Universe India 2026 Title
For anyone who spent their school mornings bouncing between Emirates National School, St Joseph’s School, and Abu Dhabi Indian School, a familiar name just took center stage on the international pageantry map. Nineteen-year-old Kaziah Liz Mejo, whose formative years unfolded right here in the UAE, was crowned Miss Universe India 2026 at a glittering grand finale held at Zee Studios in Jaipur.
Outlasting a crowded field of 53 contestants representing different parts of India on Sunday, August 23, Mejo secured the national title and the heavy responsibility that comes with it. She now packs her bags for Puerto Rico, where she will represent India at the 75th Miss Universe pageant in November. Miss Universe India 2025 Manika Vishwakarma passed on the crown during a finale watched closely by a high-profile jury that featured former Miss Universe Sushmita Sen, former titleholders Urvashi Rautela and Celina Jaitly, Miss Universe India 2024 Rhea Singha, and film producer Pragya Kapoor.
Born in 2007 with roots firmly planted in Mavelikkara within Kerala’s Alappuzha district, Mejo’s journey blends her upbringing across Abu Dhabi‘s multicultural neighborhoods with her current life as a law student in Bengaluru and a working model. She has frequently credited the UAE’s diverse environment with shaping her communication skills and personal confidence.
Pageantry is familiar territory for her by now. Her career in competitions started during her teenage years when she grabbed the Miss Teen Diva title in 2024. By 2025, she was representing India at Miss Teen International, where she finished as the first runner-up.
Beyond the runway, her background leans heavily into the performing arts. She is a trained classical dancer with 12 years of study under her belt, plays both the drums and the violin, and even made an acting debut in the Malayalam film *Shylock*. Public speaking and working through personal insecurities regarding appearance have also marked her path toward the crown.
The Jaipur finale also set the stage for other regional representatives. Vaishnavi Ganesh from Tamil Nadu claimed the first runner-up spot and secured her ticket to represent India at Miss International 2026. Gujarat’s Anushri Satavlekar finished as second runner-up, while Tejaswini Shrivastava of Maharashtra and Anubha Vashisth Chaudhary of Uttarakhand rounded out the podium as third and fourth runners-up respectively.
Mejo now turns her focus toward the global stage in Puerto Rico, carrying her UAE schooling, Kerala heritage, and growing pageant resume into her toughest challenge yet.
