Jade Kircus, a decorated Navy veteran and mother of three, is trading her military uniform for the Miss Georgia USA sash as she competes in the Miss USA pageant. Her journey to the pageant stage is marked by a profound personal loss and a renewed sense of purpose guided by her faith.
Kircus, 36, initially had no plans to enter pageantry. However, she felt a calling to compete after the state's pageant became open for applications. "I really felt like the Lord put it in my heart in October to compete," she told Fox News Digital. She participated in an open casting call and was selected as Miss Georgia USA.
Her path has not been without significant challenges. In October, shortly after deciding to compete, Kircus discovered she was pregnant. By January, she experienced a miscarriage at nearly 16 weeks. "We lost our baby girl," she recounted, describing the loss as a traumatic but faith-affirming experience. "It was in my most difficult moment that the Lord really showed up and showed me who He was. And although it was challenging, I clung to my faith."
This loss deeply impacted Kircus, but her faith provided the strength to persevere. "I remember looking at her and being like, 'Wow, this life is so beautiful.' And it was in my most difficult moment that the Lord really showed up and showed me who He was. And although it was challenging, I clung to my faith," she said. By February, she felt ready to focus on a new endeavor, and the idea of the Miss USA pageant resurfaced.
"In February, God put Miss USA back in my heart," Kircus stated. "I'm like, 'OK, God, I thought it was a closed door, but it is an open door. And so, I'm not going to sit in the pain and the hard parts of what I just experienced. I'm going to move forward and know that you have a plan.'"
Kircus served eight years in the Navy, completing two sea tours aboard the USS Wasp and the USS Chung-Hoon. She later worked as a government contractor at U.S. Central Command before becoming a full-time stay-at-home mother in 2024. She believes her military and maternal experiences have prepared her for the Miss USA competition.
"The Navy really taught me determination," she explained. "It taught me resilience. It taught me how to lead with purpose, no matter the circumstances. Being a mother has also taught me those things, but it taught me so much about people, taught me how to love people even better, taught me how to raise the next generation, how to meet them where they're at, let them know they're valued, they have worth, they're loved."
Kircus, who is a first-generation American with parents from Scotland and England, views competing for Miss USA as another opportunity to serve her country. "Representing the USA is one of the most incredible honors of my life," she said. "Not only have I experienced that as a naval officer, but I've experienced it as a daughter, as somebody who has parents who are not originally from this country. My heart has always been to serve, and representing the USA on an international scale really would be such an honor. And I do believe we can make an impact."
She aims to inspire others to pursue their goals with confidence, regardless of age or past experiences. "My goal is to let people know they can walk in confidence in whatever God has called them to do, because they have something to bring to the table," Kircus said. "It's never too late to show up for your country. And that's the woman I want to be."