JAIPUR: At the grand finale of Miss Universe India 2026, held in Jaipur on Sunday, 52 contestants from across the country showcased their beauty, talent, and confidence.
However, it was 19-year-old Kezia Liz Mejo from Kerala who won the judges' hearts with her intelligence and stage presence. She was crowned by Miss Universe India 2025, Manika Vishwakarma.
Vaishnavi Ganesh from Tamil Nadu finished as the first runner-up, while Anushree Satavalekar from Gujarat was named the second runner-up. Kezia will now represent India on the international stage at the 75th Miss Universe pageant, scheduled to be held in Puerto Rico later this year, where contestants from countries around the world will compete for the coveted title.
Overcome with emotion after her victory in Jaipur, Kezia said the moment was incredibly special for her, as she had been working towards this goal for the past three years. Expressing her happiness, she said she was excited to take the prestigious crown back to her home state of Kerala and represent India on the global stage.
The event was judged by a distinguished panel that included Bollywood actress and former Miss Universe Sushmita Sen, two-time Miss Universe India titleholder Urvashi Rautela, former Miss Universe first runner-up Celina Jaitly, film producer and environmentalist Pragya Kapoor, and Miss Universe India owner Nikhil Anand. Miss Universe India 2024, Rhea Singha, was also present at the event.
Born in 2007, Kezia is just 19 years old. Originally from Mavelikara in Kerala, she is currently pursuing a degree in Law (Honours). She is the first woman from Kerala to win the national title of Miss Universe India.
Although originally from Kerala, Kezia was born and raised in Abu Dhabi, UAE. She has undergone 12 years of formal training in classical dance and is also a singer who is proficient in playing the violin and drums. Beyond modelling and public speaking, Kezia is also an actress. She made her debut in Malayalam cinema with superstar Mammootty's film Shylock.
Kezia has already made her mark in the pageant industry. At the age of 17, she won the Miss Teen Diva 2024 title and went on to become the first runner-up while representing India at Miss Teen International 2025. Earlier this year, she won the Miss Universe Kerala 2026 title, becoming the youngest state titleholder in the pageant's history.
Following the grand finale in Jaipur, all eyes are now on the international Miss Universe competition, which is scheduled to be held in Puerto Rico this November.
