Alpha Kappa Alpha’s Justus Kelley wins Miss USA

An Alpha Kappa Alpha member just won Miss USA and made history in the process. Miss Virginia USA Justus Kelley won the Miss USA pageant on Thursday evening, becoming the first mother to ever win the title, as well as becoming the first married woman to win and the first winner in her 30s. Kelley is 31 and married to Tyler Kelley.

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The win comes after Miss USA lifted its restriction that prohibited contestants who were mothers and over the age of 28 from competing, restructuring its guidelines to allow women over 18 to compete. Per E! News, Kelley’s win netted her a $150,000 salary during her time as titleholder, along with a one-year lease on a luxury Miami apartment, a Range Rover, a Westgate vacation home club membership, a Miss USA wardrobe valued at $30,000, and additional prizes.

She spoke about her victory in a video posted by Miss USA on Instagram.

“I’m Justus Kelley and I just won Miss USA 2026. This opportunity means the world to me, and not only are we celebrating the 75th anniversary but we made history tonight. I’m the first married woman, first mom, and first woman in her 30s. It’s a great night.”

Kelley is a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha and was initiated into the Tau chapter at Indiana University, where she served as president from 2016 to 2017, according to information obtained by Watch the Yard. She also competed in the Alpha Phi Alpha Miss Black and Gold pageant during her time at the institution, which she shared in an interview with Empowerment with Elizabeth. In July. She said that the Alpha Phi Alpha-organized event was her first foray into the pageant world.

Founded by nine collegiate women at Howard University in 1908, Alpha Kappa Alpha has since expanded into one of the world’s largest Black Greek-letter organizations, now counting more than 355,000 members across 12 countries.

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