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Miss Universe India Shares Photo Amid Sushmita-Kaziah Controversy
A video from a beauty pageant became popular online.
In it, Sushmita Sen appeared to walk past the new winner, Kaziah Liz Mejo.
Some people thought this meant Sen was ignoring Mejo.
Others said the short video may not show the whole situation.
The pageant later shared a photo of Sen standing with Mejo and the other winners.
The photo showed them together on the stage.
Kaziah won the Miss Universe India 2026 title in Jaipur.
She was crowned by the previous winner, Manika Vishwakarma.
A viral video prompted online speculation that Sushmita Sen ignored Miss Universe India 2026 winner Kaziah Liz Mejo.
The video shows Sen adjusting first runner-up Vaishnavi Ganesh’s crown before walking past Mejo.
Some social media users called Sen’s apparent interaction dismissive and disappointing.
Miss Universe India shared a photo of Sen standing with Mejo and the other newly crowned winners.
The Miss Universe India 2026 finale took place on 23 August in Jaipur, where Mejo defeated 52 finalists.
- Who
- Sushmita Sen, Miss Universe India 2026 winner Kaziah Liz Mejo, and the other pageant winners.
- What
- A viral video led to speculation that Sen ignored Mejo, while a later group photo showed them together.
- Where
- Jaipur, Rajasthan, India.
- When
- The grand finale took place on 23 August; the controversy followed the circulation of the video.
- Why
- The speculation arose from Sen appearing to walk past Mejo in a brief stage interaction.
Online Speculation
Pageant Context
Interpretation of the viral video
Online Speculation
Some social media users interpreted Sushmita Sen walking past Kaziah Liz Mejo as dismissive and criticised her behavior.
Pageant Context
The video captures only a brief moment, during which Sen appeared to be responding to someone else on the other side of the stage.
Meaning of the later photograph
Online Speculation
The viral clip led users to speculate about tension between Sen and Mejo.
Pageant Context
Miss Universe India shared a photo of Sen standing with Mejo and the other winners, appearing to counter speculation about a tiff.
Key facts
- Event
- Miss Universe India 2026 grand finale
- Winner
- Kaziah Liz Mejo
- Finalists defeated
- 52
- Date
- 23 August
- Location
- Jaipur, Rajasthan
- First runner-up
- Vaishnavi Ganesh
- Previous titleholder
- Manika Vishwakarma
Quotes
Miss Universe India pageant
The pageant organization, in the caption accompanying its Instagram photograph.
“Where legacy meets the future. The iconic Sushmita Sen shares the stage with the newly crowned winners of Miss Universe India 2026 — a moment celebrating beauty, ambition, and the next generation of women ready to represent India on the global stage.”
NDTV
Sources
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