For Kaziah Liz Mejo, the trip to Puerto Rico is set to be about much more than the Miss Universe stage. The 19-year-old law student and Miss Universe India is looking forward to getting to know the island through its food, music, traditions and, of course, a little adventure.
In a video shared ahead of the pageant, Kaziah spoke about her excitement for visiting the host country and experiencing Puerto Rico beyond the usual tourist sights.
One experience she is particularly looking forward to is kayaking through one of Puerto Rico's famous bioluminescent bays. It is something she has wanted to do for a long time, and she already has a rather fun way of imagining the moment.
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“I would most likely turn it into a full-blown Bollywood moment,” she said.
For Kaziah, the glowing waters also have a personal connection. Coming from India, a country where festivals and celebrations often revolve around light, she said the experience would feel familiar in its own way.
If Puerto Rico had a flavor, it would be mango with a kick
Kaziah also tried to capture the personality of Puerto Rico through food. If she had to describe the island as a flavour, she said it would be mango with a little spice.
“Bold, tropical, and vibrant, but with a kick that no one sees coming,” she said.
The description also reminded her of Indian food culture, where strong flavors and plenty of spice are often part of the experience.
“And as an Indian, trust me, I get it because we love our food and our flavors to be so bold, and our experiences even more so. So, Puerto Rico, I am ready to taste your flavors,” she added.
Salsa sounds like her kind of music
If food gives her one way to describe Puerto Rico, music gives her another. Kaziah picked salsa as the rhythm that best matches her personality.
“The expressions, the movements, and of course, the dramatic energy when needed,” she said.
She admitted that she may not know every salsa step, but that is unlikely to stop her from joining in. For someone who says she cannot sit still when good music comes on, Puerto Rico sounds like the right place to test that theory.
What does 'Yo Soy Boricua' mean to Kaziah?
One phrase that caught Kaziah's attention was “Yo soy boricua”, a phrase associated with Puerto Rican identity and pride.
Explaining what it means to her, she said, “It's saying that this is who I am, and this is what I am proud of.”
She also drew a connection between Puerto Rican and Indian culture, particularly the feeling of carrying your identity wherever you go.
For Kaziah, that sense of cultural pride is something that does not need a shared language. She wants to understand Puerto Rico by looking beyond its postcard-perfect views and learning about the people and traditions that give the island its character.
“So Puerto Rico, when I discover your island, I want to see the pride behind the people, the stories behind your traditions, and the heartbeat behind your culture because cultures may have different languages but pride in where you come from needs absolutely no translation,” she said.
Food, music and stories are on her list
Kaziah's idea of exploring Puerto Rico sounds less like ticking off tourist attractions and more like getting involved in everyday island life.
She wants to hear its music, try the local food, listen to people's stories and dance with the locals. Her approach comes from her own experience of growing up in a culture where traditions are often shared as much as they are celebrated.
“As an Indian, I know that when you love your culture, you don't just carry it, you share it,” she added.
That seems to be the spirit she wants to take with her to Puerto Rico too: arriving curious, meeting people and allowing the place to introduce itself through its own culture.
An open mind before the Miss Universe stage
With the Miss Universe pageant ahead, Kaziah is preparing for an experience that combines competition with travel and cultural exchange.
“I am coming to Puerto Rico with an open mind, a curious heart, and probably way too much energy,” she said.
Her final thought sums up the kind of trip she appears to have in mind. Rather than seeing Puerto Rico simply through its famous sights, she wants to understand it through the people who live there.
“I know that the best way to discover a place is not through a postcard but through the people who call it home,” she concluded.