A native of Arlington made history at this year’s Miss USA pageant, becoming the first married woman and mother to win the title.
Justus Kelley, senior philanthropic advisor at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital and founder of the nonprofit Foster Footprints, claimed the crown last week in Miami and will compete in the Miss Universe pageant in November.
“We are becoming inclusive,” Kelley said in a press conference after her win. “We are preparing for the future of pageantry that says women don’t have to stay in one lane. We don’t have to decide between our dreams and our careers, our families.”
Kelley, 31, has a master’s degree in public health administration and is known for her efforts to represent and support women from diverse backgrounds.
She traveled to the Miss USA pageant carrying some of her belongings in trash bags, a nod to foster children who have arrived at her home carrying their belongings in the same kind of bag. Kelley and her husband, Tyler, have been licensed foster parents for about two years, and her nonprofit supports foster youth throughout the D.C. area.
“From the beginning, we knew we wanted to be a safe, loving and welcoming home for children of any age, race, orientation or background,” Kelley told People. “We wanted every child who came through our doors to know that they were safe, valued and worthy of being loved exactly as they are.”
Kelley also competes in outfits of secondhand clothing, which she says keeps costs down while also reminding supporters of what is possible.
“I love secondhand thrifting, but then I realized, this is a great way for me to bring people into this organization and into this hobby that I love so much, by showing them that you don’t have to spend a million dollars to be up here,” Kelley said at the press conference.
Kelley’s victory earned applause from elected officials including U.S. Rep. Don Beyer (D-Va.), Del. Adele McClure (D-2) and Gov. Abigail Spanberger (D).
“So incredibly proud of her,” McClure wrote on Instagram. “She makes Arlington proud and I’m so honored to have her as a constituent!”
So proud of the accomplishments of Arlingtonian Justus Kelley, an impressive member of our Northern Virginia community!! https://t.co/eQRgLjZ1yo
— Rep. Don Beyer (@RepDonBeyer) August 28, 2026
View this post on Instagram
Kelley said in a press release that she had been chasing the Miss USA crown for the last 10 years. She will compete in Puerto Rico on Nov. 24.
“I am proof that someone’s wildest dreams can truly become reality when ordinary people refuse to quit,” Kelley said.
Photo via Miss USA/Instagram
