Historic Miss USA: Mother of Foster Kids Makes Pageant History

In a historic moment for the Miss USA pageant, Justus Kelley was crowned Miss USA 2026. This victory marks a significant milestone as Kelley is the first woman to hold the title while being a mother to two foster children. Her win is a direct result of the 2023 rule changes enacted by the organization, which abolished the age limit for contestants and explicitly allowed mothers to participate.

Kelley's reign also sets new precedents, as she becomes the first married woman and the first woman in her thirties to be awarded the Miss USA crown. Reflecting on her achievement, Kelley stated that the opportunity means the world to her, highlighting the significance of making history on the pageant's 75th anniversary.

This breakthrough comes nearly seven decades after Leona Gage, Miss Maryland USA, won the title in July 1957 but was subsequently stripped of her crown. Gage had concealed that she was married and a mother to two children, having married at 14 and had her first child the same year. She also lied about her age, claiming to be 21 when she was 18. An investigation led to her disqualification, with Charlotte Sheffield, Miss Utah, assuming the crown. Gage's son later described her pageant wins as both an accomplishment and a tragedy, noting her lifelong struggles with health and failed marriages.