India at Miss Universe: From Sushmita Sen’s crown to UAE born Kaziah Liz Mejo’s dream
1994 — Sushmita Sen makes history Sushmita Sen becomes India's first Miss Universe India's Miss Universe journey reached a historic milestone in 1994 when Sushmita Sen became the country's first woman to win the Miss Universe crown. Her victory in Manila marked India's arrival on the global pageant stage and made Sen a national icon. She was 18 when she won the title, defeating contestants from…
In 1994, India made history by winning its first Miss Universe title when Sushmita Sen triumphed in Manila at the age of 18. Six years later, Lara Dutta followed in Sen's footsteps by becoming India's second Miss Universe in 2000. However, India had to wait another 21 years before another Miss Universe crown was claimed by Harnaaz Sandhu of Punjab in 2021.
The inspiring story of Kaziah Liz Mejo, the first Keralite to win the Miss Universe India title, began in Abu Dhabi. After being crowned Miss Universe India 2026 in Jaipur on August 23, the 19-year-old is now set to represent India at the 75th Miss Universe pageant in Puerto Rico on November 24, 2026. Kaziah's journey to the national crown included her victories in various beauty pageants, as well as her roles as a law student, classical dancer, model, and performer.
Growing up in the multicultural environment of the UAE, Kaziah credits her time there for shaping her confidence and outlook.
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