Kaziah Liz Mejo has already collected the kind of experiences that could fill a much longer career at the tender age of 19. A law student and model with years of classical dance training, an international pageant placement under her belt and a Malayalam film credit, the Kerala-born beauty has now added India’s Miss Universe crown to the list. Her victory in Jaipur on Sunday puts her on course for the global Miss Universe stage in Puerto Rico this November. Her win also adds a new chapter to Kerala’s long association with India’s pageant world, a legacy that stretches back decades.
Shweta Menon finished as Femina Miss India second runner-up in 1994 before representing India at Miss Asia Pacific, while Mini Menon won Femina Miss India Asia Pacific in 1996 and took the country’s name to the international stage. Nafisa Joseph won Femina Miss India Universe in 1997 and went on to finish among the Top 10 at Miss Universe that year. Annie Thomas was crowned Femina Miss India World in 1998, and Parvathy Omanakuttan followed with the same title in 2008, later finishing as first runner-up at Miss World. Kaziah’s victory is distinct even within that lineage: she is the first Keralite to win the newly independent Miss Universe India crown, giving the state another pageant milestone to claim.
From Kerala to Abu Dhabi
Born in 2007, Kaziah hails from Mavelikkara in Kerala but spent much of her childhood in Abu Dhabi, where she studied at Emirates National School, St Joseph’s School and Abu Dhabi Indian School. She is currently pursuing law while building a career in modelling. Away from the runway, she has trained in classical dance for 12 years, sings and plays the drums and violin. She has also explored acting, making her Malayalam film debut in ‘Shylock’.
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Her pageant journey began at 17, when she won Miss Teen Diva 2024. She went on to represent India at Miss Teen International 2025, finishing as first runner-up, before winning Miss Universe Kerala 2026 and becoming the youngest state titleholder. The national crown now takes that trajectory a step further, placing her among Kerala’s most notable recent pageant names while giving her a global platform of her own.
A Crown Years in Making
The national finale at Zee Studios in Jaipur saw Kaziah emerge from a field of 53 contestants, beating 52 other contenders for the title. Manika Vishwakarma, the reigning Miss Universe India, crowned her successor. Tamil Nadu’s Vaishnavi Gannesh was named first runner-up, while Gujarat’s Anushri Satavlekar took the second runner-up spot. The jury brought together some of India’s most recognisable pageant names, including Sushmita Sen, Urvashi Rautela and Celina Jaitly, alongside Rhea Singha and producer Pragya Kapoor.
There is also a more personal story behind the crown. Before the titles came the self-doubt: Kaziah has spoken about feeling insecure about her looks and personality, and about deliberately working on her communication, appearance and confidence. She described using a “fake it till you make it” approach on stage until the confidence began to feel real. That hard-won assurance will now travel with her to Puerto Rico, where she will represent India at the 75th Miss Universe in November.
India will have another major pageant representative to watch in 2027. Sadhvi Sail from Goa was crowned Femina Miss India World 2026 at the 61st Femina Miss India grand finale and will represent India at the 74th Miss World Festival in Tanzania in May 2027, giving India two major international pageant campaigns to follow in the coming year.
