I Am India": Urvashi Rautela Steals the Spotlight in an Off-Shoulder Tricolour Gown, Overshadows Sushmita Sen?
The Miss Universe India 2026 finale was a night of glitz, glamour, and emotional moments. The event took place on August 23 at Zee Studios in Jaipur . Fifty-two contestants from across the country competed for the prestigious crown.
But the spotlight was shared by two former titleholders: Sushmita Sen and Urvashi Rautela. Both were part of the judging panel. Their presence added an emotional layer to the evening.
A Full-Circle Moment for Urvashi Rautela
Urvashi Rautela had a special reason to be emotional. She was crowned Miss Universe India in 2015. And who crowned her back then? Sushmita Sen .
Years later, they were sitting together on the same judging panel. Rautela spoke openly about this full-circle moment. She called Sen her "first guru" .
Read Also: Sumona Chakravarti Opens Up About Undergoing Stage IV Endometriosis Surgery After Social Media Detox
"Many years ago, more than a decade ago, my first mentor, Sushmita Sen, she crowned me," Rautela told the media . "Today, she and I are also joining this event. I really hope that I made her proud after my journey" .
It was a rare emotional moment. Rautela, known for her Bollywood glamour, showed a softer side. She spoke of her respect for Sen. And she talked about how the pageant had changed her life.
The Tricolour Gown That Made Headlines
Rautela walked the red carpet in an off-shoulder gown. The gown had a tricolour theme. It was a bold statement piece. It screamed patriotism. And it became an instant talking point.
The timing was perfect. The finale was taking place just days before India's Independence Day celebrations. Rautela's gown was seen as a tribute to the nation. Photos of her in the gown went viral on social media.
But She Was Not the Only One Making a Statement
Sushmita Sen was also on the panel. Sen, the first Indian to win Miss Universe in 1994, spoke about her own journey . She confessed something surprising. "When I was competing for Miss Universe, I did not know much English. I did not even know the meaning of 'essence'," Sen said .
You Must Also Like: Lock Upp 2 Outrage: Internet Shreds Shilpa Shinde Over Viral Shivangi Joshi Comments
This was a rare moment of vulnerability. It showed how far she had come. Sen added that her winning answer from 1994 was something she "probably would not be able to give even today" . The audience applauded her honesty.
Who Is the New Miss Universe India 2026?
The crown ultimately went to Kaziah Liz Mejo from Kerala . Mejo is a 19-year-old law student . She hails from Mavelikkara in Alappuzha district . She beat 51 other contestants to win the title.
This is a historic win. Mejo is the first Keralite to win the Miss Universe India title . She will now represent India at the 75th Miss Universe pageant in November. The international event will take place in San Juan, Puerto Rico.
Top 5 finalists:
| Rank | Name | State |
|---|---|---|
| Winner | Kaziah Liz Mejo | Kerala |
| 1st Runner-up | Vaishnavi Ganesh | Tamil Nadu |
| 2nd Runner-up | Anushri Satavlekar | Gujarat |
| 3rd Runner-up | Tejaswini Shrivastava | Maharashtra |
| 4th Runner-up | Anubha Vashisth | Uttarakhand |
Who Is Kaziah Liz Mejo? A Closer Look
She grew up in Abu Dhabi. Mejo spent most of her childhood in the UAE capital . She studied at Emirates National School, St Joseph's School, and Abu Dhabi Indian School . She then moved to India for higher education.
She is trained in classical dance. Mejo has been a trained classical dancer for 12 years . She also sings and can play the drums and violin .
She has a film background. She began her acting career with the Mollywood film Shylock . She also identifies as a public speaker .
She has previous pageant experience. She represented India at Miss Teen International 2025. She finished as the first runner-up . She also won Miss Universe Kerala 2026 earlier this year.
She is a law student. Mejo is currently pursuing a law degree in Bengaluru. She balances her studies with modelling and pageantry.
She spoke about her journey. In an earlier interview, she opened up about teenage insecurity and body-image issues. She spoke about the unrealistic standards fuelled by filters and altered images online.
The Winning Answer That Sealed the Crown
The final round was a challenge. Each contestant had 40 seconds to deliver closing remarks . Mejo's response impressed the judges. It was confident. It was authentic. It was her moment.
The exact words are not fully detailed in reports. But the message was clear. She spoke about representing India on the global stage. She spoke about showcasing India's diversity, culture, and the power of the new generation.
India's Legacy at Miss Universe
India has a strong history at Miss Universe. Three Indians have won the crown:
| Year | Winner |
|---|---|
| 1994 | Sushmita Sen |
| 2000 | Lara Dutta |
| 2021 | Harnaaz Sandhu |
Mejo will now try to add a fourth crown to this list. She will represent India at the 75th Miss Universe pageant in Puerto Rico .
So, Who Stole the Spotlight?
Rautela's tricolour gown was a moment. It was patriotic. It was glamorous. And it went viral.
But the real spotlight belongs to the new winner. Kaziah Liz Mejo is a 19-year-old law student from Kerala. She has a background in classical dance and acting. She grew up in Abu Dhabi. And she just won the Miss Universe India 2026 crown.
Sushmita Sen and Urvashi Rautela were judges. Their presence added history and emotion to the night. But the future belongs to Mejo. She will now represent India at Miss Universe 2026.
