Miss Virginia wins Miss USA 2026, becoming the first mother to take the crown
Miss Virginia 2026 Justus Kelley.
Courtesy of Miss USA Miss Virginia Justus Kelley was crowned the new Miss USA in Miami on Thursday night.
She will represent the United States at the Miss Universe pageant in Puerto Rico in November.
Kelley is a foster mom of two.
She's also the first married woman to win Miss USA.
A new Miss USA has been crowned.
Miss Virginia Justus Kelley was named the winner of the 75th annual Miss USA pageant on Thursday night at the Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts in Miami.
She was crowned by Miss USA 2025 Audrey Eckert .
Kelley, 31, is a foster mom of two, a nonprofit founder, and a children's book author.
She dresses exclusively in secondhand or sponsored clothing for pageants, as she said in her Miss USA bio, to show that "pageantry can be accessible." She's also the first married woman, first mother, and first woman in her 30s to win Miss USA.
The pageant only began allowing married women and mothers to compete in 2023.
View this post on Instagram A post shared by Miss USA (@missusa) Kelley will represent the United States at the Miss Universe pageant in Puerto Rico in November.
Fifty-one women competed for the Miss USA crown, taking part in swimsuit, evening gown, and interview rounds during the preliminary competition earlier this week in Miami.
The top 20 competed in an onstage swimsuit round, while the top 10 also competed in an evening gown round.
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