Who is Miss Universe India 2026 winner Kaziah Liz Mejo?

Why is Kaziah Liz Mejo suddenly the name attached to Miss Universe India 2026? ABP Live reports that the 19-year-old from Kerala won the national crown at the finale held at Zee Studios in Jaipur on 23 August. NDTV also reports that she will now represent India at the 75th Miss Universe competition in Puerto Rico, turning the national result into the start of a much bigger international assignment.

• ABP Live - reports that Kaziah Liz Mejo of Kerala won Miss Universe India 2026 at the Jaipur finale on 23 August.
• ABP Live - identifies Mejo as a 19-year-old law student, model and trained classical dancer.
• Indian Express Malayalam - reports that she is from Mavelikkara in Kerala and grew up in Abu Dhabi.
• Indian Express Malayalam - reports that she was first runner-up at Miss Teen International 2025 after representing India and later won Miss Universe Kerala 2026.
• Miss Universe Organization - schedules the 75th Miss Universe final for 24 November 2026 at the Coliseo de Puerto Rico in San Juan, Puerto Rico.

ABP Live says the 2026 national pageant featured 52 contestants and that Mejo was crowned by 2025 winner Manika Vishwakarma. The outlet identifies her as a law student, model and trained classical dancer. Those verified details are more useful than trying to explain a search spike through speculation about social media attention.

Where is Kaziah Liz Mejo from and what does she study?

Indian Express Malayalam reports that Mejo is from Mavelikkara in Kerala and that she grew up in Abu Dhabi in the UAE. The same report identifies her as a law student and model, while ABP Live also describes her as a trained classical dancer. NDTV calls her the first Keralite to win the Miss Universe India title.

Indian Express Malayalam adds that she has trained in classical dance for 12 years and has interests in singing and musical instruments. Those details help explain the performance background behind her pageant profile, but the central biographical points for readers are simpler: she is 19, from Mavelikkara, studies law and now holds India's Miss Universe national title.

How did Kaziah Liz Mejo reach the national crown?

Indian Express Malayalam reports that Mejo won Miss Teen Diva 2024, represented India at Miss Teen International 2025 and finished first runner-up there. The outlet says she then won Miss Universe Kerala 2026 before moving on to the national Miss Universe India competition. ABP Live also notes the Miss Teen International runner-up result and the Kerala title in its profile of the new winner.

That sequence makes the Jaipur result part of an established pageant progression rather than a one-off appearance. It also provides a verified answer to readers searching her name today: the Miss Universe India 2026 crown follows earlier state, teen and international competition experience reported by established outlets.

When and where is Miss Universe 2026?

The Miss Universe Organization says the 75th Miss Universe final will take place on Tuesday, 24 November 2026, at the Coliseo de Puerto Rico in San Juan. Its official schedule places the National Costume Show on 21 November and the Preliminary Competition on 22 November, before the final two days later. NDTV and ABP Live both report that Mejo is set to represent India at the Puerto Rico event.

That is what happens next on the road from the Indian crown: Mejo moves into preparation as India's delegate and then into the official Miss Universe programme in Puerto Rico. The international organisation has published the competition dates, so her next competitive milestone is not vague: San Juan on 24 November.

This article is original commentary and analysis by The NE Times. Background facts were referenced from ABP Live - Jaipur crowning, age, law studies, national field and earlier pageant background, 24 August 2026, NDTV - Miss Universe India win, first Keralite distinction and India representation at Miss Universe 2026, 24 August 2026, Indian Express Malayalam - Mavelikkara origin, Abu Dhabi upbringing and pageant history, 24 August 2026, Miss Universe Organization - National Costume Show, Preliminary Competition and 24 November 2026 final in San Juan, 22 July 2026.