History was made at the 2026 Miss USA competition as Justus Kelley, Miss Virginia USA 2026, captured the national crown and became the first mother ever to be named Miss USA.
Kelley, 31, was crowned Thursday, Aug. 27, at the Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts in Miami during the 75th edition of the Miss USA pageant. Her victory also makes her the first married woman and first woman in her 30s to win the prestigious title.
The historic achievement comes after the Miss USA organization changed its eligibility rules in 2023, removing restrictions that had previously prevented married women and mothers from competing. The age restrictions were subsequently eliminated, opening the competition to a broader range of women.
Kelley is a foster mother of two children and has dedicated much of her work to supporting children and families. She is also a nonprofit founder and children’s book author, bringing her advocacy for foster children to the national stage.
Following her crowning, Kelley celebrated the significance of the moment and acknowledged the multiple barriers she had broken.
Her victory represents a dramatic change from the pageant’s history. In 1957, Miss Maryland Leona Gage was stripped of her Miss USA crown after officials discovered she was married and had children — circumstances that were then considered grounds for disqualification. Nearly seven decades later, Kelley has claimed the title as a married mother, marking a striking transformation in the competition’s rules and representation.
Kelley’s win also ends Virginia’s long wait for another Miss USA title. The state last produced a national winner in 1970.
The 2026 competition featured contestants representing all 50 states and the District of Columbia. Kelley emerged from the field to claim the crown, which was presented by outgoing Miss USA Audrey Eckert.
As Miss USA 2026, Kelley will represent the United States at the Miss Universe competition in Puerto Rico in November. She will also receive a prize package valued at more than $685,000, including a salary, luxury accommodations, a Range Rover and a wardrobe for the Miss Universe competition.
Kelley’s historic victory is more than another pageant title — it reflects how far the Miss USA competition has evolved and sends a powerful message that motherhood, marriage and ambition do not have to be mutually exclusive.
Justus Kelley is officially making history — one crown, one mother and one milestone at a time.
