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Speaking up takes courage: Miss Universe India Keziah Mejo praises protesting youth

Miss Universe India 2026 Keziah Liz Mejo has praised the courage of young people who recently participated in protests in Delhi, saying that raising one's voice for what is right reflects love and pride for the nation. Mejo said she feels proud to represent a generation that is confident, fearless and supportive of social causes. Speaking to PTI about the recent youth-led protests in Delhi, Mejo said, I salute each and every single one of those students, each soul that stepped out ready to protest what is right, everybody who joined hands for the betterment of our nation. She added, It takes a lot of courage to be able to speak up. It takes a lot of pride, a lot of love for your country. The protests at Delhis Jantar Mantar began on June 20 over alleged NEET paper leak. The movement, led by the satirical outfit Cockroach Janata Party (CJP), later spread to other parts of the country. The agitation concluded on July 25 after the government held discussions with CJP representatives and agreed to address several demands, including compensation for families of NEET aspirants who died by suicide and withdrawal of FIRs registered against protesters. Calling herself incredibly proud to be part of todays youth generation, Mejo said, That is the India that I represent. The 19-year-old from Kerala will now represent India at the 75th Miss Universe competition in Puerto Rico later this year. Despite her success in the pageant world, Mejo said she continues to pursue her dream of becoming a lawyer. She believes her legal ambitions and her pageant journey can work together to create a positive impact. I absolutely love law. I have wanted to become a lawyer since grade nine, and I am not ready to let that go. I do not believe you have to choose between your dreams. You can allow them to work together and amplify each other, she said. Mejo added that she hopes to use her knowledge of law along with the Miss Universe India platform to bring about meaningful change. She won the Miss Universe India 2026 title after competing against 51 contestants at the Jaipur grand finale. Vaishnavi Ganesh from Tamil Nadu was declared the first runner-up, while Gujarats Anushri Satavlekar secured the second runner-up position.