Miss USA 2026 has spoken out after becoming the first mother to win the competition. The 75th edition of the national beauty pageant crowned Miss Virginia USA 2026, 31-year-old Justus Kelley, as the winner at Miami’s Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts Thursday.Kelley also became the pageant’s first married winner, and the first in her 30s, after the competition abandoned its rigid entry requirements in 2023.“I’m Justus Kelley and I just won Miss USA 2026,” Kelley said in a video posted to the organization’s Instagram page. “This opportunity means the world to me, and not only are we celebrating the 75th anniversary but we made history tonight,” she said. “I’m the first married woman, first mom, and first woman in her 30s. It’s a great night.”Justus Kelley made history as the first mom, married woman and contestant in her 30s to win the competition (Getty)The organization had previously prohibited moms and women over the age of 28 from competing, but lifted the restriction in 2023. The rules still apply in the Miss America pageant.The rule change also meant that married or divorced women are no longer restricted from competing.Following the rule change, 71-year-old Marissa Teijo set a record as the oldest person to compete for the title of Miss Texas USA in 2024.Kelley won the lavish prize package valued at over $685,000, which includes a $150,000 salary, a Range Rover, a $30,000 Miss Universe wardrobe, a one-year lease in a luxury Miami apartment residence and a Westgate Vacation Home Club, among other prizes. She, of course, also walked away with the official Miss USA tiara, sash and the opportunity to represent the U.S. at the international Miss Universe pageant.Miss USA had previously prohibited moms, married women and women over the age of 28 from competing (Getty)Kelley won the lavish prize package valued at over $685,000 (Getty)The winner, from Virginia, is the founder of Foster Footprints, an organization that works with foster children in the Washington DC area. She is a licensed foster parent and has recently fostered a baby brother and a sister.Kelley spoke about meeting her husband in college in an interview with People, stating that they have “welcomed children ranging from seven months to 10 years old into our home.”“From the beginning, we knew we wanted to be a safe, loving and welcoming home for children of any age, race, orientation or background,” she continued. “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 called it a privilege to be able to celebrate the young children’s milestones, including their “first steps and countless little moments.”