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Hyderabad: Nineteen-year-old Kaziah Liz Mejo from Kerala has been crowned Miss Universe India 2026, emerging victorious from a field of 52 finalists at the grand finale held in Jaipur on Sunday, August 23. With the coveted national title, Kaziah will now represent India at the 75th Miss Universe pageant, which is scheduled to be held in Puerto Rico in November.

Kaziah’s win marks a major milestone in her pageant journey as she prepares to take the international stage and compete against contestants from across the world.

Who are the Miss Universe India 2026 top 3?

Kaziah Liz Mejo from Kerala took home the Miss Universe India 2026 crown, while Vaishnavi Gannesh from Tamil Nadu was named the first runner-up and also received the Miss International India 2026 title.

Anushri Satavlekar from Gujarat secured the second runner-up position.

The grand finale brought together 52 finalists who had made it through a rigorous selection and grooming process. The contestants participated in several preliminary rounds and events before competing for the national crown in Jaipur.

Sushmita Sen led the Jjury

The 2026 Miss Universe India finale featured a star-studded jury headed by Sushmita Sen, who made history by becoming India’s first Miss Universe in 1994.

The judging panel also included former Miss Universe India titleholders Celina Jaitly, who won the title in 2001, and Urvashi Rautela, who was crowned in 2015.

Other members of the jury included Miss Universe India 2024 Rhea Singha, film producer Pragya Kapoor, entrepreneur Visha Ladhia, Miss Charm 2025 Anna Blanco and dermatologist Dr Stuti Khare Shukla, among others.

From thousands of aspirants to 52 finalists

The road to the Miss Universe India 2026 finale began months earlier, with around 8,000 to 9,000 aspirants considered during the selection process, according to the organisers.

The final 52 contestants were chosen through regional state pageants, auditions, wildcard entries and an NRI category. The finalists then underwent several rounds of grooming and competition, including a sashing ceremony, introduction and speech rounds, a gala event and a swimsuit competition.

The grand finale was held at Zee Studios in Jaipur, marking the culmination of the extensive selection process.

Kaziah Liz Mejo to represent India at Miss Universe

With the national crown now secured, all eyes will be on Kaziah as she begins preparations for the 75th Miss Universe competition in Puerto Rico this November.

She will undergo further grooming and preparation ahead of the global pageant, where she will represent India and compete for the coveted Miss Universe crown.

At just 19, Kaziah Liz Mejo carries India’s hopes to the global stage as she prepares for one of the biggest beauty pageants in the world.