As a child, Kaziah Liz Mejo insisted on carrying the Indian flag during a march at a sports event, even though the flag was almost double her size. She remembers pitching herself until she was chosen for the role, determined to lead the procession.
Years later, she held the Tricolour once again — this time on an international stage while representing India at Miss Teen International, where she finished as the first runner-up.
Now, the 19-year-old law student and model from Mavelikkara is preparing for another significant journey. Fresh from being crowned Miss Universe Kerala 2026, Kaziah is headed to the Miss Universe India competition.
From being an insecure teenager to pageant winner, Kaziah has come a long way. Here she shares some of her thoughts and experiences.
How does it feel to win Miss Universe Kerala 2026? This is not your first win…
It still feels like a dream. I started competing in pageants in 2024, when I won Miss Teen Diva. My ultimate goal is to become Miss Universe. Since I was 16, that dream has stayed with me.
After winning the national title, I represented India at Miss Teen International in 2025 and finished as the first runner-up. It was heartbreaking. But looking back, I believe everything happened exactly as it was meant to. That experience prepared me for where I am today.
Who inspired your pageant journey?
The first Miss Universe competition I watched was in 2021, when Harnaaz Sandhu won the crown for India after 20 years. I didn’t know much about pageantry then, but seeing India win sparked something in me.
What inspires me most about Harnaaz is her resilience. She faced criticism and scrutiny after winning, yet remained true to herself. I struggled with confidence growing up. Watching her embrace who she was encouraged me to do the same.
You have spoken about being insecure as a child. How did you build confidence?
For years, I didn’t have a single unfiltered picture of myself. I was insecure about how I looked, my personality… almost everything. The turning point came when I started working on myself intentionally — my communication skills, personality, appearance and overall growth. But the biggest thing that helped me was the power of ‘fake it till you make it’. I tricked my brain into believing that I was the most confident person on earth and walked onto stages. People believed it — and eventually, I believed it too…
Some people view beauty pageants as superficial. What would you say to them?
I think pageantry is often misunderstood. It’s not just a show of physical beauty. Whether you win or not, it teaches you so much about yourself. It helps you find your voice, build confidence. It taught me resilience an discipline. The growth that happens along the way is valuable.
You are now heading to Miss Universe India....
I started preparing for the national competition even before the state pageant (laughs). Kerala has never won the Miss Universe India title. My goal is not just to represent Kerala well, but represent India on the international stage.
On ther other hand, my parents are particular about being strong in academics as well. I like law, so planning to take it up seriously alongside other pursuits.