Justus Kelley Makes Miss USA History as First Married Mother to Win Crown

(Justus Kelley. Photo by Fox News)

Justus Kelley, 31, has become the first mother and first married woman to win Miss USA.

She was crowned Miss USA 2026 on Thursday at a ceremony in Miami during the pageant's 75th anniversary celebration.

Kelley's historic win represents a major shift in the competition.

The Miss USA organization opened eligibility to mothers and married women in 2023, removing age restrictions that previously limited who could compete.

Her victory would have been impossible under the old rules.

Kelley represented Virginia and defeated contestants from across the United States and the District of Columbia.

She succeeds Audrey Eckert, who crowned her successor on stage.

Elizabeth Voight of Pennsylvania was second runner-up, Madeline Erickson of Iowa came in third and Alayzia Christopher of Utah placed fourth.

The competition carried the theme 75 Years of Icons, celebrating generations of women who have held the Miss USA title.

Legacy titleholders from previous years were brought onto the stage before the final results were announced.

As winner, Kelley receives a prize package worth more than 685,000 dollars.

This includes a 150,000 dollar salary, a Range Rover, a one-year luxury apartment lease in Miami and wardrobe benefits.

The contestants spent two weeks in Miami preparing for the competition, participating in preliminary events and a costume competition.

Kelley's win comes after a period of change for the Miss USA organization, which has dealt with leadership and ownership disputes in recent years.