Winning the Miss Universe Kerala 2026 title may have brought her recognition, but for 19-year-old law student Kaziah Liz Mejo, her greatest achievement is overcoming years of self-doubt and insecurity.

Speaking to The New Indian Express, Kaziah said she struggled with confidence for years and was unhappy with many aspects of herself.

“For years, I didn't have a single unfiltered picture of myself. I was insecure about my looks, my personality and almost everything else,” she said.

The beauty queen said building confidence was a gradual process that involved working on her communication skills, personality, appearance and overall self-development.

According to her, one idea played a major role in changing her mindset: “fake it till you make it.”

“The biggest change came when I started intentionally working on myself. I convinced myself that I was the most confident person in the room and walked onto stages with that belief. At first, others believed it, and eventually I believed it too,” she said.

Kaziah, who hails from Mavelikkara in India's Kerala state, said her interest in beauty pageants began after watching Harnaaz Sandhu win the Miss Universe crown in 2021.

“That was the first Miss Universe competition I watched. I didn’t know much about pageants at the time, but seeing India win after so many years inspired me,” she said.

Harnaaz Sandhu ended India’s 21-year wait for the Miss Universe title in 2021. Before her, India’s previous winners were Sushmita Sen and Lara Dutta.

Responding to the perception that beauty pageants focus only on physical appearance, Kaziah said the experience offers valuable life lessons.

“Pageantry is often misunderstood. It is not only about beauty. Whether you win or lose, it helps you discover yourself, find your voice and build confidence. It has taught me resilience, discipline and personal growth,” she said.

Kaziah is now preparing to compete in the Miss Universe India competition, hoping to take the next step in her pageant journey.