Justus Kelley Crowned Miss USA, Making History as First Married Mother to Win
The new Miss USA, Justus Kelley, shares how she balanced pageant preparation with raising two young foster children.
Justus Kelley has made history as the first married mother to win the Miss USA title. The 31-year-old, who was Miss Virginia USA, succeeded Audrey Eckert as the national pageant transitioned in 2023 to allow married women and mothers to compete.
Kelley, who is a foster mother to two young children, described her preparation as unconventional. She told Fox News Digital that her training often took place during her children's nap times, late at night, or after their bedtime routine. "I did walking classes with my baby on my chest, in his carrier. I did squats in my living room while holding my two-year-old. I practiced interview questions while feeding my toddler," Kelley said.
She acknowledged that her schedule did not allow for the same dedicated preparation time as in previous years. "There were days when I wished I could just take the entire day to dedicate to pageant prep, but that's not where I am," she stated. "That's not the season of life that I'm in. And we made it work, and my family was fully on board with this experience."
The Miss USA pageant, established in 1952, operates separately from the Miss America pageant, which began in 1921. In 1957, Mary Leona Gage was crowned Miss USA but was later disqualified when it was revealed she was married and a mother.
Kelley focused on core strength and bodyweight exercises at home, often incorporating them into other activities. "So a lot of times you'll find me at home in the living room. I might be watching a movie or doing some self-care, but I am on the floor crunching it out during that movie, saying, 'Let's try to get through this whole scene doing crunches,'" she explained.
Her husband has been a significant source of support throughout her pageant journey, which spans over a decade. "He's been a part of every bit of this journey," Kelley said. "He's been a huge supporter. My husband's a consultant, and he's been calling himself my pageant consultant. But he's been a huge help in getting me to this point."
The prize package for Miss USA 2026 includes a salary, a luxury apartment in Miami, and a Range Rover, among other benefits. Kelley humorously noted her first question upon learning about the car was, "Does it fit car seats?"
Kelley expressed her desire to use her platform to challenge the notion that women must choose between their families, careers, and personal aspirations. "You don't have to choose one part of who you are," Kelley said. "You can be all of who you are. That, to me, is the message. We can embrace every part of who we are."