Justus Kelley Crowned Miss USA 2026

Miss Virginia Justus Kelley has been crowned Miss USA 2026 after a closely contested national pageant held in Miami on Thursday, August 27.

The 31-year-old Kelley received the crown from outgoing winner Audrey Eckert of Nebraska, becoming the fifth woman from Virginia to win the national title. Miss Florida Aileen Cerchiara finished as first runner-up and will replace Kelley at Miss Universe if she cannot compete.

Kelley’s victory came as the Miss USA organisation celebrated its 75th Diamond Anniversary, with this year’s event carrying the “75 Years of Icons” theme. The new Miss USA will represent the country at the Miss Universe pageant in San Juan, Puerto Rico, in November.

A graduate of Indiana University, Kelley holds a bachelor’s degree in community health and a master’s degree in public health administration. She works as an adviser at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital and founded Foster Footprints, an organisation supporting young people in foster care across the DMV area.

Kelley and her husband have also served as licensed foster parents in Virginia for nearly two years. “I married my college sweetheart, who shared with me on one of our very first dates that he, too, dreamed of fostering someday. Thirteen years later, we have welcomed children ranging from 7 months to 10 years old into our home,” she told People.

The Miss USA 2026 competition also faced controversy before the final. The CW withdrew from broadcasting the event following a contractual dispute, leaving the Queen Beauty Network to stream the pageant.

The organisation also dealt with the removal of former Miss North Carolina USA Brittany Boltinhouse, who later filed a lawsuit against the pageant and its organisers.

Despite the surrounding drama, Kelley now begins her reign as Miss USA 2026 and prepares for the global competition in November.

Can Justus Kelley follow her national success with a Miss Universe crown?