15 countries out of Miss Universe 2026; six Asian nations barred, Kerala's Kaziah Liz Mejo to represent India

Miss Universe 2026 is in the news for an unusual reason. Preparations for the 75th Miss Universe pageant are in full swing at the José Miguel Agrelot Coliseum in San Juan, Puerto Rico. Pictures of the brightly lit stage and glamorous photoshoots of the contestants are all over social media. Behind the glitter, however, there is considerable upheaval. Ahead of the final on November 24, 2026, 15 countries have withdrawn from the contest, a major blow to the organisers.

The biggest decision this time is the absence of six major Asian countries. Thailand, Malaysia, Vietnam, Indonesia, Singapore and Laos have always been prominent in beauty pageants, but will not be on stage this time. The six countries have been barred from taking part because of a dispute between the Miss Universe Organization and the local franchises over corporate and licence agreements.

The decision has angered beauty pageant fans in Asia. One relief is that the national titles of the winners from these six countries will stand, and their crowns will not be taken back. It has also been made clear that, despite the ban this year, Vietnam will host next year's 76th Miss Universe pageant.

The franchise dispute is not the only obstacle. International visa and travel rules have also disappointed several contestants. Because of strict US visa restrictions and technical difficulties in completing the required paperwork, the contestants from Nepal, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Angola and the Republic of Congo could not reach Puerto Rico. For these young women, who had dreamt for years of carrying their country's flag on this stage, it is a heavy emotional blow. Some countries also chose to withdraw at the last stage for personal and health reasons.

Amid this turmoil, there is good news for India: 19-year-old Kaziah Liz Mejo is representing the country at Miss Universe 2026. She won the crown at the Miss Universe India pageant in Jaipur on August 23, 2026, beating 52 contestants from across the country. She is the first woman from Kerala to win this national title.

Kaziah is from Mavelikkara in Kerala. She spent her childhood and did her schooling in Abu Dhabi. She is not just a professional model but is currently studying law. She also has a distinct identity in the arts, having trained formally in classical dance for 12 years. She also enjoys singing and playing the drums and violin.

The international stage is not new to her. Before becoming Miss Universe India, she won the Miss Teen Diva title in 2024. She then represented India at Miss Teen International in 2025 and finished as first runner-up. Kaziah has taken the stage in Puerto Rico with the aim of bringing India its fourth Miss Universe crown, after Sushmita Sen (1994), Lara Dutta (2000) and Harnaaz Sandhu (2021).