Justus Kelley becomes the first mother to win Miss USA

Justus Kelley has become the first mother to win Miss USA, taking the 2026 crown during the pageant’s 75th edition in Miami. The 31-year-old Virginia representative also became the first married winner and the first woman in her 30s to claim the national title.

A result made possible by new eligibility rules

Kelley was crowned on August 27 at the Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts of Miami-Dade County. Her victory arrived three years after Miss USA removed rules that had excluded mothers, married women and contestants older than 28. The organization now accepts adult contestants without the former age ceiling.

In a video posted through the pageant’s social channels, Kelley emphasized the three milestones represented by her win. She entered the national competition after winning Miss Virginia USA earlier this year.

Kelley and her husband, Tyler Kelley, are licensed foster parents caring for two children. She is also the founder of Foster Footprints, an organization focused on supporting young people in foster care in the Washington, D.C., region. That work became a central part of her public platform during the competition.

A changing definition of the pageant winner

The victory reflects how quickly the profile of eligible contestants has broadened since the 2023 rule changes. For decades, the national pageant presented a narrower model of who could compete. Kelley’s win now turns that policy shift into a visible result on the organization’s biggest stage.

The 2026 event did not air on The CW after the network and organizers failed to resolve a production agreement. It was instead carried by the Queen Beauty Network streaming service. Kelley is expected to represent the United States at Miss Universe while beginning a year of official appearances tied to the title. Reports valued her winner’s package at more than $685,000, including a salary, housing, transportation and a wardrobe allowance for the international competition.