Justus Kelley made Miss USA history on Aug. 27, becoming the first married woman, the first mother, and the first woman in her 30s to win the title in the pageant’s 75-year run. But before any of those records became official, the 31-year-old had already made her point a different way, arriving in Miami with some of her belongings packed inside black trash bags instead of luggage.
Why did she actually carry trash bags to the pageant?
To draw attention to something she and her husband, Tyler, see up close as licensed foster parents. Kelley wrote on Instagram that the trash bags reflected a reality too many foster children already know, since kids moving between homes are frequently handed garbage bags instead of suitcases to carry what little they have. She said no foster child should have to carry their belongings that way, and used the moment to start raising money aimed at replacing trash bags with actual suitcases for kids in the system.
How long has she actually been doing this kind of advocacy work?
Nearly two years as a licensed foster parent in Virginia, according to her own account, during which she and Tyler have welcomed children into their home ranging from seven months to 10 years old. They currently foster two siblings. That hands-on experience is also what led her to found Foster Footprints, a nonprofit she started to support foster youth and families across the D.C., Maryland and Virginia area specifically.
What did she actually say when she won?
During the competition’s final question round, Kelley described herself as 31, married to her college sweetheart of nine years, and a proud foster parent, framing her presence on stage as proof that women no longer have to choose between ambitious careers, family, and personal dreams. After being crowned, she said she felt trusted to be first, adding that she didn’t intend to be the last woman like her to hold the title.
How did Kelley end up eligible to compete at all?
Because the rules changed. Miss USA barred married women and mothers from competing for most of its history, a restriction serious enough that the 1957 winner was stripped of her title after officials discovered she was secretly married with two children. The organization dropped that restriction in 2023, then eliminated its age cutoff, previously set at 28, the following year. Kelley’s win marks the first time those rule changes have actually produced a national winner who’s a wife and mother, rather than just made the possibility available.
What’s her background outside of pageantry?
Extensive, and mostly centered on public health and philanthropy. Kelley, originally from Indianapolis, graduated from Cathedral High School before earning a bachelor’s degree in community health from Indiana University in 2017 and a master’s in public health administration in 2019, during which she also led the school’s Alpha Kappa Alpha chapter as president. She spent years working in development roles for the Make-A-Wish Foundation across Kentucky, Indiana, Ohio, and later Virginia, before landing her current role as senior philanthropic advisor at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. Her pageant history actually predates Miss USA by close to a decade, starting with a Miss Indiana University title in college and including a Mrs. Indiana win in 2020 under the separate Mrs. America circuit.
What’s next for her?
Kelley will represent the United States at the Miss Universe competition in San Juan, Puerto Rico, this November, continuing to build her foster care platform on an international stage. Virginia Gov. Abigail Spanberger publicly congratulated Kelley following her win, calling her a strong role model for both Virginians and Americans.
