On 27th August 2026, Justus Kelley made history by winning the 75th edition of the Miss USA pageant in Miami, becoming the first contestant to be crowned as a married woman, a mother, and a participant over the age of 30. This significant achievement marks a new chapter in the history of the pageant, which has recently amended its eligibility requirements to invite married women and mothers to compete.
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In an exclusive interview with PEOPLE shortly after her crowning moment, Kelley revealed that her journey to becoming Miss USA was fraught with uncertainty. In February, just a few months before the competition, she received a call to become a foster parent for two siblings. This sudden responsibility shifted her priorities, causing her to reconsider her participation in the pageant. She had plans to attend several high-profile Fashion Week events, including one in Paris, but found herself questioning whether such opportunities still mattered in light of her new commitments.
Kelley confided that her initial instinct was to take a step back from her aspirations. However, the support of her family played a crucial role in her decision-making process. They reminded her of the importance of pursuing one’s dreams, even in the face of significant life changes. “They reminded me that I don’t have to give up on myself while making a difference,” Kelley recalled, reflecting on how her family’s encouragement reinvigorated her determination to compete.
It was this backing that ultimately empowered Kelley to embrace her crowning ambition. “They assured me that they would take care of everything at home,” she shared. Feeling supported by her “village,” Kelley was emboldened to face the challenges of the Miss USA competition, allowing her to envision what a year of service in the role could look like. She noted that, while there are trade-offs, the investment her family had made in her dream had left a profound impression on her.
As Kelley stood on stage with the first runner-up, Miss Florida USA Aileen Cerchiara, she was engulfed by a sense of calm. “I genuinely felt, in the deepest parts of me, whatever’s supposed to happen is about to happen,” she reflected, illustrating the mental poise she maintained during the tense moment before the winner’s announcement.
Had the outcome leaned in the opposite direction, Kelley mused that she would still have felt proud to be the first runner-up, referencing the illustrious history of the pageant. She playfully pointed out that Halle Berry finished as a runner-up in 1986 and ended up achieving great success in her career.
Following the event, Kelley celebrated her victory with an intimate gathering of family and friends, sharing the joyous occasion with those who had supported her throughout her journey. Although her young foster children were not present at the competition, Kelley expressed excitement about returning home, particularly for her two-year-old, who has a fondness for “princesses and tiaras.”
Kelley, who hails from Virginia, is not only a foster mother but also the founder of a nonprofit organisation and an author of a children’s book. Her crowning comes on the heels of a significant change in the rules of Miss USA. In 2023, the pageant began permitting married women and mothers to participate, and 2024 was the first year without an age restriction, opening the competition to women aged 18 and over—previously capped at 28.
While Kelley’s victory is a trailblazing moment for the Miss USA competition, it is noteworthy that the first married woman and mother to be crowned was Mary Leona Gage in 1957. However, due to the strict regulations of the time, her title was revoked when her marital status was revealed, leaving her win unrecognised by the pageant.
As Justus Kelley steps into her role as Miss USA, she embodies a progressive shift in the pageant’s values, resonating strongly with a new generation of women who seek to balance personal aspirations with family life. Her journey stands as a testament to the possibilities that emerge when women receive the support they need to follow their dreams—proof that ambition and motherhood are not mutually exclusive but can indeed flourish side by side.