Justus Kelley, Miss Virginia 2026, has been crowned Miss USA 2026, and is the first mother to have ever won the title.

Key Takeaways:

• Justus Kelley competed in the 2026 Miss USA pageant representing the state of Virginia.

• She was crowned Miss USA, the first ever mother to win the title.

• Kelley is also the first married woman to be named Miss USA (the rules were changed in 2023), as well as the first woman in her 30s.

The Details:

Miss USA held its 75th annual pageant last Thursday night, and Justus Kelley, representing Virginia, was crowned the winner. Miss Florida and Miss Pennsylvania were first and second runners up.

Kelley's win was historic: she is the first married woman, the first mother, and the first woman in her 30s to be crowned Miss USA.

In 2023, Miss USA removed the age cap requirement and also allowed married women, divorced women, and mothers to compete in the pageant.

Kelley is a foster mother and founder of Foster Footprints, a non-profit organization with the goal of supporting foster children and families in Virginia. When she arrived for the pageant, she intentionally used trash bags as her luggage to send a message of awareness.

"Heading to Miami for the 75th @MissUSA with the very type of bag I’ve seen children in foster care transition into my own home carrying," she wrote. "The trash bags I carry reflect a reality far too many foster children know all too well. A trash bag should never be a child’s suitcase. Every foster child deserves to carry their belongings with dignity — And I need you to help me make that possible. What is going to Miss USA, if not for raising awareness of issues that matter?"

Kelley has remained dedicated to proving that women can have families and still pursue their careers and dreams.

"I am all of those things; we can be all of those things," she previously said of her roles in business and as a married woman. "At a time where women have felt they had to choose between family and career and their wildest dreams, I'm here to send a message that we can be all of those things."

What Happened:

It's a message she reiterated during the interview portion of the Miss USA pageant. When asked what she hopes her year as Miss USA would tell women, she said:

"We are here tonight celebrating the 75th anniversary of Miss USA, but we also have an opportunity to make history tonight. I'm 31 years old, I'm married to my college sweetheart of nine years, and we are proud foster parents of two adorable siblings that absolutely have my heart.

What my year as Miss USA would mean and look like is no longer questioning if we have to choose between our ambitious careers, our families, and our wildest dreams. I'm standing on this stage embracing every part of who I am, and I believe that I can be your next Miss USA."

It's a message that resonated with the judges, as Kelley was crowned Miss USA 2026, and will compete in the Miss Universe pageant representing the United States.

"I'm Justus Kelley, and I just won Miss USA 2026!" she said after the pageant. "This opportunity means the world to me. Not only are we celebrating the 75th anniversary, but we made history tonight! The first married woman, the first mom, and first woman in her 30s! It's a great night."

The Bottom Line:

As Kelley said, women do not have to choose between being wives and mothers, and chasing their dreams.