San Juan, Puerto Rico: Miss Universe Delegates representing India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and Bangladesh shared their aspirations, advocacy priorities, and experiences at The Miss Universe Experience in Plaza Las Américas, as the Miss Universe Organization celebrates its 75th anniversary.
“The Radiance of an Eternal Legacy” will be presented to the next Miss Universe during the finale on Tuesday, November 24, at the Coliseo de Puerto Rico José Miguel Agrelot. The Diamond Anniversary edition features more than 100 delegates from around the world, alongside a schedule of events highlighting the pageant’s history, international participation, and global reach over the past 75 years.
Speaking exclusively to South Asian Herald at the unveiling of the anniversary crown “The Radiance of an Eternal Legacy,” South Asian contestants highlighted girls’ education, empowering young people, and representing their countries, while Miss Universe Organization CEO Ronald Day promised a finale filled with surprises and emotion.
They also spoke about their participation in the competition, and the priorities they hoped to highlight.
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“I’m Miss Universe India 2026, and I’m so incredibly excited to be here. This is the 75th edition, the diamond anniversary, and this just feels like God’s calling, and that’s why I’ve always been here,” Kaziah Liz Mejo told South Asian Herald.
Liz Mejo, 19, said she is a law student in Bangalore and is also pursuing a Bachelor of Arts with honors. Describing her participation, she said, “This has been the journey of a lifetime.”
She said it had been a “journey of many years, and so many dreams, blood, sweat, and tears. And I feel like this is the ultimate stage. This is the stage that little Kaziah always dreamt about.”
“I know for a fact the best part about being a Miss Universe is the lives that we get to change simply through our voices, our presence, and that’s exactly what I aspire to do as well as Miss Universe India, hopefully as Miss Universe as well,” Liz Mejo said.
She added that many young people around her have ambitions but face discouragement because of their age or because others tell them they are too much. Her own experience, she said, offered an example of pursuing those ambitions despite such judgments.
“But I stand here as nothing but the example that you are so much more than what people make of you, and the only person that can limit your dreams is you,” she said.
Miss Universe Pakistan Misbah Arshad identified girls’ education as a central priority during her participation in the pageant.
“I’m here to represent my country beautifully, and also to share something that is very, very close to my heart, which is education of girls,” Arshad told South Asian Herald. She said girls should have access to school and the ability to pursue every opportunity available to them.
“That is possible through self-belief, and that is what I want to do,” she said.
Miss Universe Sri Lanka Nimhara Sasindi spoke about representing her country at the anniversary competition and attending the unveiling.
“Today was the crown reveal, and I’m really honored to be here to represent my nation, my Sri Lanka, and I want to make my country proud,” Sasindi told South Asian Herald.
Miss Universe Bangladesh Samira Khan Mahi also shared her enthusiasm about participating in the pageant and its activities in Puerto Rico.
“This is Miss Bangladesh. I’m here at Miss Universe, and I’m super excited. Everything is going so great. We are doing a lot of activities. So yeah, let’s hope for the best,” she told South Asian Herald.
Speaking to South Asian Herald, Day expressed enthusiasm about the upcoming finale and its significance as the organization marks its 75th anniversary.
“We are so happy with the event. I’m going to tell you something. You are going to enjoy the show from the beginning to the end. It’s going to be full of surprises, full of emotions, and you’re going to see it,” he said, describing the anniversary as a historic occasion for the organization.
