‘End of the day your body is your machine, your temple...’ Miss Universe India 2026 Kaziah Liz Mejo

For Kaziah, the moment she had dreamt about is finally here. She had imagined it, replayed it in her head and now, somehow, it is real. As she finally gets ready to represent India at Miss Universe in Puerto Rico, Kaziah speaks to Mathrubhumi about the lessons that brought her here, what feminism means to her and what she hopes comes next.

On a scale of 1 to 10, how happy are you feeling about everything that's happening in your life right now?

200! Because genuinely I've dreamt of this moment.. I've recreated these exact same moments in my head and now, it's actually happening. So it's kind of like I'm still living in a dream bubble with rose-tinted glasses, but it's amazing. It's a really ‘pinch me’ moment for me.

Do you believe in miracles?

I believe in miracles, yes. I believe in the power of miracles because of prayer.

At the finale, you were asked about the ‘sound of silence’. What does silence mean to you now?

Right now, a good night's sleep. Honestly, silence is just me in my room, tucked into my sheets, having a nice meal and just sleeping for like 6 to 7 hours straight.

Do you have a strict diet? What does your routine actually look like?

I feel like the pageant girl in me should be saying yes, but the truth is that I don't. I keep myself at a place where I know what my body needs. I make sure that I give my body the nutrition it needs and I make sure I stay active.

I'm also an athlete so I just make sure that I work according to what my requirements are, what my needs are. But I don't restrict myself because I think if you have to put yourself on such a restrictive diet, then that body is not your body. And at the end of the day, your body is your machine, your temple, and it's important that you take care of it.

What is something that 17 year old Kaziah had to learn the hard way?

Failure is important in life. I was somebody who was so competitive and so used to winning and having that drive of I want to win, I want to win, I want to win, that, I forgot that failure is also part of life, and I learned it really the hard way by not winning my international pageant.

But at that time, it felt like my world was ending. But now I understand that these were just stepping stones. These were just the pebbles that were being put into my jug of water. And I think my whole life changed when I realised that failure is a very important part of life.

You’ve mentioned that your mom had big dreams but couldn’t pursue them because she grew up in a more conservative environment. Has her story shaped your understanding of feminism?

I really think it did and I don't think it was just for me but also my mom's family as well. It's the same people who were scared to send her, that are cheering for me now. My grandma, my grandpa, all of them are so supportive of me, even if they don't understand it, they're so happy for me.

And I think that's exactly how evolution works. That's how we move with time, with advancement, with the generations, with the requirements of the future generations. People change with time. And it's okay. Sometimes we have to excuse it. Sometimes they also learn the hard way. They're also living life for the first time. And thankfully, I had parents who were very, very supportive.

But I understand that's not the case for everybody, and I really hope that they understand that their parents are also doing it simply because they're scared. They're not bad people. They're also just parents for the first time, trying to look out for their kid. So just sit down, speak to them. I'm sure they'll listen, and I'm sure that they'll understand.

What does feminism mean to you personally?

Feminism to me I think is the ability to make your own decisions whether that be a man or a woman. More than wanting to be better than the other gender, it's about being able to make that decision for yourself. whether you want to be a homemaker, a business person, you want to do your own thing, start a startup, you want to do all at once, you want to be in pageants, want to be in entertainment… whatever it may be, it’s about having the choice to make that decision yourself. That is feminism, being able to have that freedom of choice.

You are an actor, dancer, model and a law student. What drew you to law in the first place?

I've always had a fascination for law, investigation and all of that was something that really intrigued me. And I always knew that I wanted to give back to society in any way that I could, besides pageantry as well. And we used to have a few jokes inside the house that I chose law just because like arguing.

But I think that public speaking has always been my forte and it's always been something that I enjoyed. So being able to use my skill for the betterment of the world, I think is the best thing that I can do, so of course law.

What's next for you?

Next is in Puerto Rico, Miss Universe. I will be representing India. And I will do everything in my power to make sure the 4th crown comes back home to India. And then I would love to see what God's plan is for me, but I would love to explore the fields of acting as well.