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The United States has chosen its champion for the Miss Universe beauty pageant in November and for the first time ever, the winner is a married woman with kids.

Justus Kelley of Virginia took home the crown in a televised ceremony on Friday. The 31-year-old is also the oldest-ever winner of the competition. Last year’s winner, Audrey Eckert, crowned her successor.

Just a few years ago, a contestant like Kelley would have been barred from entering the race due to rules disqualifying contestants who are married and have children. There was also a stringent age limit; contestants had to be between 18 and 28 years of age.

The rules against married women and mothers were amended in 2023 and the age limit was scrapped in 2024.

Kelley is a licensed foster parent along with her husband Tyler and they are currently fostering a baby boy and his sister in their home.

She made waves last week when she was spotted at the airport, carrying her belongings in a garbage bag as part of her luggage. She explained this was a tribute to the many foster kids that had come into her life carrying their things the same way.

The beauty queen founded and runs Foster Footprints, an organisation that empowers youths from her area who are in the foster care system.

Before Kelley took the crown home this week, Mary Leona Gage was crowned Miss USA in 1957. She was also married, with two kids and this revelation had her stripped of the title.

The title holder will now head to Puerto Rico later this year, where the next Miss Universe will be crowned on November 24. She will face off against women from around the world, including Pakistan’s Misbah Arshad, who was chosen to represent her country on August 19.

Cover photo: Miss USA/Instagram