Kaziah Liz Mejo is a 19-year-old Indian law student, model, classical dancer, and pageant titleholder from Mavelikkara in Kerala’s Alappuzha district. Born in 2007, she spent her formative years in Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates before returning to India to pursue higher education and public representation. On 23 August 2026 she was crowned Miss Universe India 2026 in Jaipur, becoming the first woman from Kerala to win the national title and earning the right to represent India at the 75th Miss Universe pageant in Puerto Rico later that year.
Her path combines academic ambition with performing arts and a public journey of building self-confidence. She balances rigorous law studies in Bengaluru with modelling, classical dance training of more than a decade, music, and advocacy. The following account draws only on verified public information about her background, education, pageant record, and personal statements.
Kaziah Liz Mejo Early Life
Kaziah Liz Mejo was born in 2007. Her family roots lie in Mavelikkara, a municipality in the Onattukara region of Alappuzha district in the southern Indian state of Kerala. Although her parents, Mejo Abraham and Suja Mejo, are natives of the Karipuzha area near Mavelikkara, she spent the greater part of her childhood and schooling years in Abu Dhabi. The multicultural environment of the UAE capital shaped her early outlook, communication skills, and sense of adaptability.
She attended Emirates National School, the all-girls St Joseph’s School, and Abu Dhabi Indian School. Frequent school changes were part of her experience, yet she has spoken of always feeling at home in the city. Her mother enrolled her in classical dance lessons and local children’s stage events from a young age. By around the age of seven she had begun formal training that would eventually span twelve years and several classical forms. She also developed skills in singing and playing both the drums and the violin.
In her teenage years she confronted significant self-doubt and body-image concerns, a struggle she has described openly. For years she avoided unfiltered photographs of herself, feeling insecure about her appearance and personality. She later credited an intentional decision to work on communication, personality, and overall growth, combined with a deliberate “fake it till you make it” mindset, for helping her rebuild confidence. Watching Harnaaz Sandhu win the Miss Universe title for India in 2021 sparked her interest in pageantry. At seventeen she moved independently back to India, a choice she has framed as a deliberate step to ground her identity more firmly in the everyday realities of her home country while continuing her education.
Kaziah Liz Mejo State of Origin and Cultural Roots
Mavelikkara sits on the banks of the Achankovil River in southern Alappuzha district, roughly 43 kilometres south of the district headquarters and about 95 kilometres north of the state capital Thiruvananthapuram. Historically it served as the capital of the feudal kingdom of Odanad and remains a cultural and economic hub of the Onattukara region. The name is popularly linked to the legendary king Mahabali, known locally as Maveli, and the word “kara” meaning land or shore.
The town is known for ancient temples such as the Kandiyoor Sree Mahadeva Temple, one of the 108 Shiva temples associated with the legendary figure of Parashurama, and the Chettikulangara Bhagavathy Temple, famous for its Kumbha Bharani festival. A ninth-century seated Buddha statue reflects earlier Buddhist influence in the area. Mavelikkara was also the site of the 1753 Treaty of Mavelikkara between the Kingdom of Travancore and the Dutch East India Company. High literacy rates, a tradition of arts and education, and a history of religious harmony form part of the broader cultural landscape that frames Kaziah’s Kerala identity. She has repeatedly expressed pride in carrying the name of her hometown and state onto national and international stages.
Kaziah Liz Mejo Education and Academic Path
After completing her schooling in Abu Dhabi, Kaziah returned to India and began pursuing a degree in law. She is currently studying in Bengaluru while managing the demands of modelling and pageant preparation. She has described studying case law on her tablet between rehearsals, illustrating the practical balance she maintains between academic work and public commitments. Her interest in law is linked to a broader sense of advocacy and empowerment. She has spoken of education as a core value and has expressed concern that no child should have to choose between hunger and learning.
Kaziah Liz Mejo Performing Arts Background
Long before pageants, performance formed a central part of her development. Twelve years of classical dance training gave her stage presence, posture, discipline, and comfort under lights. She has trained in multiple classical forms and has also studied karate and kalaripayattu. Music remains another steady interest: she sings and plays the drums and the violin. These skills contributed to her early exposure on stage and later informed her confidence in pageant interviews and presentations.
She made her screen debut with a role in the 2020 Malayalam film Shylock, directed by Ajai Vasudev and starring Mammootty. The experience marked an early step into acting. She has also spoken about public speaking and has delivered a TEDx talk titled “The Power of Believing Before Becoming” at TEDxADIS Muroor Youth, in which she explored self-belief as a catalyst for growth and transformation.
Kaziah Liz Mejo Career
Kaziah’s public career has developed across modelling, acting, public speaking, and competitive pageantry. Modelling work runs parallel to her studies. Acting began with the Malayalam film Shylock. Public speaking includes her TEDx appearance and advocacy themes around confidence, education, and personal growth.
Kaziah Liz Mejo Pageant Journey
Her formal pageant path began in her mid-teens. At seventeen she won Miss Teen Diva 2024 and the associated Miss Teen International India title. She went on to represent India at Miss Teen International 2025, where she finished as first runner-up. The international experience, though not a first-place result, provided valuable stage time and perspective. Earlier in 2026 she won Miss Universe Kerala 2026, becoming the youngest titleholder of that state pageant and securing her place among the national finalists.
Kaziah Liz Mejo Miss Universe India 2026
On 23 August 2026 at Zee Studios in Jaipur she competed against more than fifty finalists drawn from state pageants, final auditions, and NRI selections. Outgoing titleholder Manika Vishwakarma crowned her Miss Universe India 2026. Tamil Nadu’s Vaishnavi Gannesh was named first runner-up and also received the Miss International India 2026 title; Gujarat’s Anushri Satavlekar finished second runner-up. Kaziah’s victory made her the first Keralite to hold the Miss Universe India crown. In post-crowning remarks she described the moment as the culmination of more than three years of work and expressed happiness at bringing the title home to Kerala so that her hometown could be shown to the world.
Kaziah Liz Mejo Preparation for the Global Stage
As Miss Universe India 2026 she is scheduled to represent the country at the 75th Miss Universe pageant in San Juan, Puerto Rico, in November 2026. The period between the national win and the international competition involves intensive preparation in presentation, interview skills, and physical readiness while she continues her law studies.
Kaziah Liz Mejo Awards
Verified titles include Miss Teen Diva 2024, first runner-up at Miss Teen International 2025, Miss Universe Kerala 2026 (youngest state winner), and Miss Universe India 2026. These achievements form the documented record of her competitive pageant career to date.
Kaziah Liz Mejo Personal Life
Kaziah maintains a close relationship with her parents, Mejo Abraham and Suja Mejo. Her mother has been described by her as a steady source of practical support and management of daily logistics. Her father, while less familiar with the details of pageantry, has remained supportive of her choices. She has an older sister who studies medicine in Georgia and has appeared in several Malayalam films; Kaziah has publicly credited her sister as an early inspiration for dance, modelling, and acting.
She has spoken about the challenges of balancing high-profile public commitments with family life and studies. Visits to relatives in the UAE are limited by her schedule, yet she retains affectionate memories of childhood routines there, including simple shared meals. Her personal narrative centres on the deliberate work of overcoming insecurity and on the belief that confidence can be cultivated through consistent effort and a willingness to appear confident before fully feeling it.
Kaziah Liz Mejo Advocacy and Public Voice
Beyond titles, Kaziah has used interviews and her TEDx talk to address teenage insecurity, the pressure of filtered images on social media, and the value of intentional self-development. She has described pageantry as a process that builds resilience, discipline, and self-knowledge whether one wins or loses. Themes of education, empowerment, and the refusal to let hunger stand between a child and learning appear in her public statements. Her answers during the Miss Universe India final, including reflections on the sound of silence before stepping on stage and on beauty as conviction and courage, received attention for their personal clarity.
Kaziah Liz Mejo Influence of Abu Dhabi Years
The years spent in Abu Dhabi provided early exposure to a diverse, international community. Switching schools and navigating a multicultural setting contributed to adaptability and communication skills that later served her on national and international stages. She has said she always felt at home in the UAE capital even while remaining connected to her Kerala roots. The decision to return to India at seventeen for higher education and deeper engagement with the country she represents marked a conscious shift from diaspora life to grounded national representation.
Conclusion
Kaziah Liz Mejo’s story is still unfolding. At nineteen she holds the Miss Universe India 2026 title, continues law studies in Bengaluru, and prepares to compete on the global Miss Universe stage. Her background combines Kerala heritage, an Abu Dhabi upbringing, classical arts training, early acting experience, and a documented personal effort to move from insecurity to public confidence. The verified record of her education, family support, performing arts foundation, and pageant achievements provides a clear picture of a young woman who has chosen to develop multiple dimensions of her life in parallel. Future chapters will be written by her continued academic work, her representation of India, and the public platform she now carries.
FAQs
Who is Kaziah Liz Mejo?
Kaziah Liz Mejo is a 19-year-old Indian law student, model, classical dancer, and the Miss Universe India 2026 titleholder. She hails from Mavelikkara in Kerala and grew up largely in Abu Dhabi.
Where was Kaziah Liz Mejo born and raised?
She was born in 2007 with family roots in Mavelikkara, Alappuzha district, Kerala. She spent her childhood and schooling years in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, before returning to India for higher education.
What is Kaziah Liz Mejo’s educational background?
She completed schooling at Emirates National School, St Joseph’s School, and Abu Dhabi Indian School. She is currently pursuing a law degree in Bengaluru.
What pageant titles has Kaziah Liz Mejo won?
She won Miss Teen Diva 2024, placed first runner-up at Miss Teen International 2025, won Miss Universe Kerala 2026 as the youngest state titleholder, and was crowned Miss Universe India 2026.
Does Kaziah Liz Mejo have experience in acting or the arts?
Yes. She has trained in classical dance for twelve years, sings, and plays the drums and violin. She appeared in the 2020 Malayalam film Shylock and has delivered a TEDx talk on self-belief.
Who are Kaziah Liz Mejo’s parents?
Her parents are Mejo Abraham and Suja Mejo. She has spoken of her mother’s strong practical support and her father’s encouragement of her happiness and choices.
When will Kaziah Liz Mejo compete at Miss Universe?
As Miss Universe India 2026 she is scheduled to represent India at the 75th Miss Universe pageant in Puerto Rico in November 2026.
What has Kaziah Liz Mejo said about overcoming insecurity?
She has stated that for years she had no unfiltered photographs of herself because of insecurity about her looks and personality. She attributes her later confidence to intentional work on communication and personality and to the practice of presenting confidence until it became genuine.