Miss Universe India 2026: Kerala Girl Wins Crown

Kerala's 19-year-old Kaziya Liz Mejo has won the Miss Universe India 2026 title. She emerged victorious at the grand finale held in Jaipur, Rajasthan, on August 23, 2026, beating contestants from across the country.

The Miss Universe India 2025 winner, Manika Vishwakarma, crowned Kaziya and congratulated her on the achievement. With this national title, Kaziya is now set to represent India at the international Miss Universe competition.

Kaziya Liz Mejo Beats 52 Finalists

The Miss Universe India 2026 selection process included auditions and interviews held across different parts of the country. A total of 52 contestants made it to the final stage.

The finalists were judged on several factors, including confidence, personality, communication skills, talent, leadership qualities and knowledge of Indian culture. Kaziya impressed the judges throughout the different rounds and eventually secured the top spot.

Vaishnavi Ganesh from Tamil Nadu was named the first runner-up, while Anushree Satavalekar from Gujarat finished as the second runner-up.

Sushmita Sen Leads the Jury Panel

The grand finale featured a prominent panel of judges. Sushmita Sen, who became India's first Miss Universe in 1994, headed the jury.

Former Miss Universe India winners Celina Jaitly, Urvashi Rautela and Rhea Singha were also part of the judging panel. Other members included Pragya Kapoor, Visha Ladhia, Anna Blanco and Dr Stuti Khare Shukla.

Kaziya to Represent India at Miss Universe 2026

Kaziya's journey will now move to the global stage. She is scheduled to represent India at the 75th Miss Universe pageant in Puerto Rico in November 2026.

The international competition will give the young Kerala contestant an opportunity to showcase her personality, talent and India's cultural heritage before a global audience.

Kaziya Calls Crown a Responsibility

Following her victory, Kaziya said the title means more than simply winning a beauty pageant. She described the crown as a responsibility and expressed her desire to present India's culture, talent and the confidence of its younger generation on the international stage.

She will also aim to bring the Miss Universe crown back to India.

Can Kaziya Continue India's Miss Universe Legacy?

India has a strong history at the Miss Universe pageant, with Sushmita Sen, Lara Dutta and Harnaaz Sandhu among the Indian women who have won the prestigious international title.

With Kaziya Liz Mejo now carrying India's hopes at the 2026 Miss Universe competition, attention will turn to her performance in Puerto Rico. Fans will be eager to see whether the 19-year-old can continue India's successful Miss Universe journey and bring home another global crown.

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