Arlington, Virginia’s Justus Kelley wins Miss USA 2026 in Miami, Florida

Justus Anye Coleman Kelley represented Virginia, United States in the 75th edition of Miss USA. She will represent the country in the 75th edition of Miss Universe.

BIOGRAPHY

Kelley is an American philanthropic advisor and beauty queen based in Arlington, Virginia. Both she and her husband Tyler Rashad Kelley grew up in Indianapolis, Indiana, USA.

Justus is an alumna of Cathedral High School in Indianapolis and Indiana University Bloomington in Bloomington, Indiana, USA. Tyler is an alumnus of Warren Central High School in Indianapolis, Indiana University Bloomington, the University of Virginia (UVA) School of Education and Human Development in Charlottesville, Virginia and the UVA Darden School of Business in Charlottesville.

On June 7, 2026, Justus turned 31. Here are 23 more things about her:

1. In 2013, she met Tyler.
2. From 2013 to 2017, she attended Indiana University Bloomington where she earned a bachelor’s degree in community health.
3. She won Miss Indiana University 2016.
4. In 2017, she and Tyler got married.
5. From 2017 to 2019, she attended Indiana University Bloomington where she earned a master’s degree in public health administration.
6. From 2018 to 2021, she was a seasonal fundraising coach at Anidaso 360, which is based in Accra, Ghana.
7. From 2019 to 2021, she was a volunteer engagement associate at Make-A-Wish Ohio, Kentucky and Indiana in Indianapolis.
8. She won Mrs. Indiana 2020.
9. She was Mrs. America 2021 first runner-up.
10. From 2020 to 2022, she served as the U.S. representative on the Kiwanis International board of diversity, equity and inclusion.
11. In 2021, she was an advancement officer at Make-A-Wish Ohio, Kentucky and Indiana.
12. From 2021 to 2022, she was a regional development officer at the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Greater Virginia in Charlottesville.
13. From 2022 to 2025, she was an associate director of healthcare philanthropy at UVA Health in Charlottesville.
14. She was Miss Virginia USA 2023 second runner-up.
15. She was a Miss Virginia USA 2024 finalist.
16. In 2025, she joined St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in Arlington as a senior philanthropic advisor.
17. She was Miss Virginia USA 2025 third runner-up.
18. She was Miss District of Columbia USA 2025 first runner-up.
19. She was Miss District of Columbia USA 2026 second runner-up.
20. She is Miss Virginia USA 2026.
21. She won Miss USA 2026.
22. She is Miss Universe USA 2026.
23. She is a Miss Universe 2026 candidate.

TIMELINE

Justus is 4 years younger than Tyler. She is the second African-American student to win Miss Indiana University, the first married woman to win Miss USA and the first married woman to represent the U.S. in Miss Universe.

2010s

• On February 28, 2016, she won Miss Indiana University 2016 at the Alumni Hall of Indiana University Bloomington.
• On July 21, 2017, she and Tyler got married in Indianapolis.
• In December 2018, she joined Anidaso 360.
• In June 2019, she joined Make-A-Wish Ohio, Kentucky and Indiana.

2020s

• In June 2020, she joined Kiwanis International.
• On June 27, 2020, she won Mrs. Indiana 2020 at the Holiday Inn Conference Center in Mishawaka, Indiana.
• On March 27, 2021, she represented Indiana at Mrs. America 2021 and competed against 50 other candidates at the Westgate Las Vegas Resort and Casino in Winchester, Nevada, USA. She was runner-up to Brooklyn Rivera of Texas.
• From March 2021 to September 2021, she was a Make-A-Wish Ohio, Kentucky and Indiana advancement officer.
• In July 2021, she left Anidaso 360.
• In August 2021, she joined the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Greater Virginia.
• In February 2022, she left the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Greater Virginia and joined UVA Health.
• In October 2022, she left Kiwanis International.
• On April 30, 2023, she represented Charlottesville at Miss Virginia USA 2023 and competed against 32 other candidates at the Merchant Hall of the Hylton Performing Arts Center in Manassas, Virginia. She was second runner-up to Ashley Williams.
• On June 23, 2024, she competed against 29 other Miss Virginia USA 2024 candidates at the Hilton Arlington National Landing in Arlington and finished in the Top 15.
• In July 2025, she left UVA Health and joined St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.
• On September 6, 2025, she competed against 10 other Miss District of Columbia USA 2025 candidates at Seneca Valley High School in Germantown, Maryland, USA. She was runner-up to Allison Laforce.
• On July 18, 2026, she represented Arlington at Miss Virginia USA 2026 and competed against 20 other candidates at the Hilton McLean Tysons Corner in McLean, Virginia and won the title.
• On August 27, 2026, she represented Virginia at Miss USA 2026 and competed against 50 other candidates at the Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts in Miami, Florida, USA. She won the title.
• On November 24, 2026, she will represent the U.S. at Miss Universe 2026 and compete against 129 other candidates at the José Miguel Agrelot Coliseum in San Juan, Puerto Rico.