Justus Kelley is the new Miss USA. This 31-year-old woman from Virginia won Thursday, August 27 in Miami, during the 75th edition of the national beauty contest, in Miami. A historic victory: it is the first time in the history of Miss USA that a married woman and mother has been elected, reports the magazine People.
In 1957, Mary Leona Gage was crowned Miss USA, but lost the title after just one day, after it was discovered that she was married with two children, which was not allowed in the pageant. It was not until 2023 that the regulations changed. From now on, women who are married and/or have children can also compete. Additionally, the organizers have removed the age limit of 28 years.
The thirty-year-old, who is a foster mother of two children, received her crown from the hands of her predecessor Audrey Eckert (24 years old), at the end of an evening hosted in particular by actor Ian Ziering (Steve, in “Beverly Hills 90210”), which honored the previous winners of the competition.
Over $685,000 in prizes
Justus Kelley thus wins prizes with a total value exceeding 685,000 dollars, or approximately 591,000 euros. This prize includes a salary of $150,000, a Range Rover, a one-year lease in a luxury residence in Miami, a subscription to the Westgate Vacation Home Club – a shared ownership program – a wardrobe for her future participation in the Miss Universe pageant worth $30,000, and much more.
In Germany, for example, the Miss Germany competition has been open to older women for several years. Married women and mothers have been eligible since 2019, and the age limit of 39 has been removed. In 2024, architect Apameh Schönauer, then 39 years old and a mother, won the title. The current Miss Germany is Rose Mondy (26), a Twitch streamer.
What do you think about mothers and married women being able to participate in beauty pageants?
