First Married Mom Crowned Miss USA | Panama City Beach News

Justus Kelly just shattered pageant history—becoming the first Miss USA from Virginia since 1970 and, more importantly, the first winner under new rules that allow married women and mothers to compete. At 31, she’s a mom to two foster kids and founder of Foster Footprints, plus a senior advisor at St. Jude. Her win overturns decades of exclusion, echoing the 1957 disqualification of Leona Gage for being married and having children. Now representing the U.S. at Miss Universe in Puerto Rico, Kelly turns her platform toward fostering youth—a powerful moment proving beauty, advocacy, and motherhood can—and should—be celebrated together. Listen in comfort:Get a discount on a Soli Pillow: http://solipillow.com/discount/dnn. Advertise on DNN:[email protected] This is an automated, high-level news summary based on public reporting.Report issues to [email protected]. View sources & latest updates:https://sources.thednn.ai/be101315a63ae3e5