At 31, Kelley became the first mother, first married woman, and first woman over 30 to win the Miss USA title. Representing Virginia, she was crowned the 75th Miss USA in Miami on August 27, 2026.
But there is much more to her story than the crown.
Justus Kelley is a wife, a foster mother, a nonprofit founder, a children’s book author, and a philanthropic adviser. She and her husband have fostered children, and Kelley was caring for two siblings when she competed for Miss USA.
Her historic win came after Miss USA and Miss Universe organizations changed their eligibility rules in 2023, allowing married women and mothers to compete and removing the previous age restrictions.
In this video, we take a closer look at Justus Kelley’s Miss USA journey, her marriage and motherhood, the rule changes that made her historic win possible, and why her victory is significant in the history of the Miss USA pageant.
We also explore the surprising history behind the crown — including the story of Mary Leona Gage, whose 1957 Miss USA title was revoked after organizers discovered she was secretly married and had a child.
So how did a 31-year-old married mother become Miss USA?
Watch the full story of Justus Kelley, Miss USA 2026.
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