Breaking new ground, the Miss USA pageant has crowned its first winner who is also a mother, marking an unprecedented moment in its storied history.
Set against the vibrant backdrop of Miami, Florida, the 75th Miss USA competition unfolded on Thursday, gathering 51 contestants in a dazzling display of talent and poise.
Emerging victorious, Justus Kelley—Miss Virginia USA and a 31-year-old mother—etched her name into the history books as she ascended to the title of Miss USA, breaking barriers with her groundbreaking win.
For more than seven decades, the pageant adhered to strict rules that excluded mothers and married women from claiming the crown, maintaining a long-standing tradition of eligibility requirements.
However, in a landmark decision announced in August 2022, Miss USA revised its criteria, paving the way for married and divorced women, as well as mothers, to enter the competition starting in 2023.
Kelley, who was also the first married woman to win the pageant, took to Instagram to celebrate her victory.
‘This opportunity means the world to me, and not only are we celebrating the 75th anniversary but we made history tonight,’ Kelley said in a video shared online.
‘I’m the first married woman, first mom and first woman in her 30s. It’s a great night.’
Miss Virginia USA Justus Kelley, 31, was crowned Miss USA at the beauty pageant in Miami, Florida, on Thursday and became the first-ever mother to win the title
Kelley and her husband, Tyler, are foster parents to a boy and girl
Kelley and her husband, Tyler, are foster parents to a boy and girl.
‘I married my college sweetheart, who shared with me on one of our very first dates that he, too, dreamed of fostering someday,’ she explained in a previous interview with People.
’13 years later, we have welcomed children ranging from seven months to ten years old into our home.
‘From the beginning, we knew we wanted to be a safe, loving and welcoming home for children of any age, race, orientation or background.
‘We wanted every child who came through our doors to know that they were safe, valued and worthy of being loved exactly as they are.’
It comes days after Miss USA became embroiled in a lawsuit.
Brittany Boltinhouse, 27, won the Miss North Carolina USA contest last month and was set to compete at the national Miss USA beauty pageant this week.
However, earlier this month, her title was revoked by the event’s organizers, who cited ‘recently surfaced information.’ The runner-up, Myla Hadley, took her crown and place at the competition.
Kelley on stage during the 2026 Miss USA Final Competition on August 27
While the organization did not specify what information it was referring to, a screenshot circulated on X afterward that showed posts from Boltinhouse referencing the N-word in 2017 and 2019.
Thom Brodeur, the chairman of Miss USA, later stated in a lengthy message that the organization ‘does not tolerate racism, homophobia, transphobia nor language that strips any person of their dignity.’
He added that the decision didn’t come down to a ‘single moment,’ but rather ‘conduct over an extended period of time.’
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This week, Boltinhouse hit back by filing an explosive lawsuit in which her lawyers accused Miss USA and A Blaize productions, which serves as the executive producer and state license holder for the official Miss USA pageants in North Carolina, of ‘weaponizing their social media platforms to deploy a catastrophic, global campaign to injure a bright, inspiring beauty pageant winner of mixed race and proud daughter of immigrant parents, embodying the ideal work ethic and American dream.’
Her lawyers alleged that Miss USA and A Blaize Productions turned her into ‘the target of widespread accusations of racism, homophobia, transphobia and bigotry.’
The pageant queen, who described herself as a ‘proud conservative’ and ‘God-fearing’ woman, previously told the Daily Mail that she believes her crown was not taken away because she used the racial slur, but rather, because of her ‘political and religious stance.’
The Miss North Carolina USA winner who was stripped of her title filed a bombshell lawsuit against the organization earlier this week, accusing them of ‘knowingly ensuring her excruciating reputational destruction’
Brittany Boltinhouse, 27, won the contest last month and was set to compete at the national Miss USA beauty pageant on August 27. However, earlier this month, her title was revoked by the event’s organizers, who cited ‘recently surfaced information’
In the lawsuit, Boltinhouse’s lawyers noted that Miss USA and A Blaize Productions’ decision to strip her of her title was ‘justifiable’ and that she is not ‘seeking rescission, reinstatement, an order restoring her title, an injunction concerning pageant administration or contract damages.’
However, she is asking for an ‘award of compensatory damages in an amount to be determined by the jury’ for all ‘injuries proximately caused by Defendants’ wrongful conduct, including injury to Brittany’s reputation and standing in the community, humiliation, embarrassment, mental anguish, emotional distress and loss of professional and economic opportunities.’
A representative for A Blaize Productions previously told the Daily Mail that ‘Ms Boltinhouse was not removed because of her political affiliation, religious beliefs or the exercise of those beliefs.’
‘Contestants and titleholders are not prohibited from holding or expressing personal political or religious beliefs,’ the company said in a statement.
‘Our agreements do, however, establish standards regarding conduct, decorum, representations made to the organization and the responsibilities associated with representing the Miss North Carolina USA title.
‘Following her crowning, previously undisclosed information and publicly available material were brought to our attention.
‘The organization reviewed that information, communicated directly with Ms Boltinhouse, and consulted with the national organization. The decision was ultimately based on the totality of the circumstances, including conduct and material that the organization determined was inconsistent with the standards and responsibilities associated with serving as Miss North Carolina USA.
While the organization did not specify what information it was referring to, a screenshot circulated on X that showed posts from an account that belonged to Boltinhouse referencing the N-word in 2017 and 2019
In the lawsuit, which was filed on Sunday and viewed by the Daily Mail, Boltinhouse’s lawyers accused Miss USA and A Blaize Productions of ‘weaponizing their social media platforms to deploy a catastrophic, global campaign to injure’ her
‘This was not a determination about whether Ms Boltinhouse was entitled to hold particular political or religious beliefs. She was, and remains, entitled to those beliefs.’
Blaize Productions added that Boltinhouse was ‘repeatedly informed of the factors that led to the organization’s decision.’
‘During those communications, we expressly distinguished her personal political and religious beliefs from the conduct and material that were the subject of our concerns. At no point was she informed that her title was being terminated because of her political or religious beliefs,’ the statement continued.
‘We are aware that Ms Boltinhouse has referenced audio recordings of communications with the organization. Because we have now received correspondence from legal counsel representing Ms Boltinhouse concerning anticipated litigation, it would be inappropriate for us to publicly litigate the contents of private communications, recordings, specific evidence or individual allegations through the media.
‘We stand by the process that was followed, the reasons communicated to Ms Boltinhouse, and the decision that was made.’
The organization concluded the statement by adding that Blaize Productions ‘also continues to strongly discourage bullying, harassment, threats or personal attacks against Ms Boltinhouse.’
‘Our organizational decision should never be interpreted as an invitation for anyone to mistreat her,’ the company said. ‘We continue to wish Ms Boltinhouse all the best moving forward.’