Miss USA 2026: Justus Kelley Takes National Crown

Miss USA 2026 has a new titleholder after Miss Virginia Justus Kelley won the national crown in Miami on Thursday, 27 August.

The 31-year-old Kelley secured the title following a closely fought competition at this year’s annual pageant. Audrey Eckert, last year’s Miss USA from Nebraska, passed the crown to Kelley, who celebrated by spinning across the stage while holding her bouquet and showing off her sparkling tiara.

The moment came after an emotional end to Eckert’s reign. Shortly before the winner was announced, she accidentally fell twice on stage. The crowd responded with a standing ovation, turning an unexpected moment into a warm farewell.

Miss Florida Aileen Cerchiara finished as first runner-up. She will step in for Kelley at the Miss Universe pageant if Kelley cannot compete.

Kelley’s victory also carried added significance because the Miss USA organisation celebrated its 75th Diamond Anniversary this year. The pageant adopted the theme “75 Years of Icons” to mark the milestone.

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“For 75 years, the organization has showcased dynamic, accomplished women who reflect the confidence, diversity and ambition of modern America,” the website reads.

Kelley, who comes from Arlington, Virginia, becomes the fifth woman from the state to win the national Miss USA title. She will now travel to San Juan, Puerto Rico, in November, where she will represent the United States in the Miss Universe competition.

Her background extends well beyond pageantry. Kelley holds a bachelor’s degree in community health and a master’s degree in public health administration from Indiana University. She also works as an adviser at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.

Her commitment to community work is another major part of her story. Kelley founded Foster Footprints, an organisation supporting young people in foster care across the DMV area. She and her husband have also been licensed foster parents in Virginia for nearly two years, according to People.

“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 the outlet.

The Miss USA 2026 competition also attracted attention because viewers could not watch it on traditional television as originally expected. Instead, the pageant streamed on Queen Beauty Network after The CW announced one week before the event that it would no longer broadcast Miss USA or Miss Teen USA.

“After careful consideration and conversations with the Miss USA Organization, The CW Network has decided to forego next week’s broadcasts of the Miss USA and Miss Teen USA pageants,” the network said in a statement shared with USA TODAY. “We wish the organization and all of this year’s contestants well in the competition.”

The Miss USA Organisation later told USA TODAY on 21 August that it was “so excited” about its continuing partnership with Queen Beauty Network. It also said on Instagram Stories that it had discovered a “contractual issue” involving its production arrangements that could not be resolved before the pageant.

“Since then, our team has worked diligently to explore options that would allow us to continue with a live broadcast on The CW. Unfortunately, we were unable to reach mutually agreeable terms for this year’s event,” the statement read. “While The CW will not be carrying a live broadcast of Miss USA this year, we are grateful for our relationship with the network and remain open to opportunities to work together in the future.”

The broadcast change was not the only controversy surrounding Miss USA 2026. Weeks before the national competition, Brittany Boltinhouse lost her Miss North Carolina USA title shortly after winning it.

Blaize Productions, which holds the state licence for the Miss North Carolina USA pageant, announced the decision on social media on 5 August. The company said it “followed a thorough review of recently surfaced information” that did not meet the “integrity of the Miss North Carolina USA title and values of [its] organization.”

Thom Brodeur, CEO of Miss USA, also confirmed Boltinhouse’s departure. His statement said the organisation “does not tolerate racism, homophobia, transphobia nor language that strips any person of their dignity.”

Brodeur later announced that Myla Hadley, the first runner-up, would take over the Miss North Carolina title and compete at the national pageant.

Boltinhouse has since filed a lawsuit against the pageant and its organisers. She alleges that they caused “excruciating reputational destruction” to her image.

With Kelley now holding the national crown, attention will turn to her preparation for the Miss Universe competition in November.

What do you think Kelley’s chances are of winning the Miss Universe title?