When Justus Kelley was crowned Miss USA 2026 on Thursday night, August 27, at the Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts in Miami, the 31-year-old foster care advocate from Arlington, Virginia, made history three times over. She became the first mother, the first married woman, and the first woman in her 30s to hold the title in the pageant’s 75-year history.
Standing beside her story at every step has been her husband, Tyler Rashad Kelley, who shared her commitment to foster care from the very first date they went on. Here is a full profile of Tyler Kelley, how he and Justus built their family, and the personal journey behind one of the most significant Miss USA crownings in the competition’s history.
Who Is Tyler Rashad Kelley?
Tyler Rashad Kelley is Justus Kelley’s husband and the co-parent of the two foster children they are currently raising. He is approximately four years older than Justus Kelley, placing him around 35 years old, and like his wife, he grew up in Indianapolis, Indiana.
Tyler’s own story carries significant personal weight. As a child, he was a Make-A-Wish “Wish Kid” after being diagnosed with a life-threatening lupus condition. Through the foundation, he received a trip to Walt Disney World, an experience that stayed with him.
Years later, Tyler’s younger brother was killed in gun violence. His brother had a son on the way whom he never got to meet. Tyler stepped into a mentorship role for his nephew and, in a gesture that connected his past to his present, took the boy on a trip to Disney World, echoing the kindness that had been extended to him as a child.
In a June 2021 interview with Bloom Magazine, Tyler spoke about losing his brother and the decision to care for his nephew, saying his brother “had a son on the way who he never got to meet.”
Tyler’s personal losses and his childhood health challenges are part of what shaped his commitment to fostering. On one of his very first dates with Justus, he told her that he dreamed of fostering children someday, a revelation that Justus has described as a pivotal moment in their relationship.
How Justus and Tyler Met
Justus and Tyler met in 2013 at Indiana University Bloomington, where Justus studied community health. During her time there, she also held the title of Miss Indiana University, an early sign of her pageant career to come.
Both grew up in Indianapolis, though they did not know each other before college. Their connection was immediate, and their shared values, particularly around foster care and serving others, became the foundation of their relationship.
The couple dated for four years before marrying in 2017. Justus later completed her master’s degree in public health administration, also from Indiana University.
Their Foster Family
Justus and Tyler became licensed foster parents in the Commonwealth of Virginia approximately two years ago. They are currently fostering a pair of siblings: a baby boy and his preteen sister.
In a People interview published on August 20, 2026, one week before the Miss USA 2026 pageant, Justus described their family’s philosophy in detail.
“I married my college sweetheart, who shared with me on one of our very first dates that he, too, dreamed of fostering someday,” she said. “Thirteen years later, we have welcomed children ranging from 7 months to 10 years old into our home.”
She continued: “From the beginning, we knew we wanted to be a safe, loving and welcoming home for children of any age, race, orientation or background. 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.”
Justus described it as a “privilege” to celebrate her foster children’s milestones, first steps, and what she called “countless little moments.” She also spoke warmly about the biological parents of the children they are fostering, calling them “incredible” and describing the relationship as collaborative rather than adversarial.
On their long-term plans, she said: “While we may not know exactly what our family will look like in the future, we know we want to continue to be a source of stability and comfort for any child who needs it throughout their journey.”
The couple also has a goldendoodle named Crimson.
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The Trash Bags That Told a Story
One of the most talked-about details of Kelley’s Miss USA journey was not a gown or a crown. It was her luggage.
When she traveled to Miami for the competition, Kelley deliberately packed some of her belongings in black trash bags. The choice was symbolic. As foster parents, she and Tyler had witnessed firsthand that children entering foster care often arrive at their new homes carrying everything they own in garbage bags rather than suitcases.
“The trash bags I carry reflect a reality far too many foster children know all too well,” Kelley wrote on Instagram before the pageant. “A trash bag should never be a child’s suitcase. Every foster child deserves to carry their belongings with dignity — and I need you to help me make that possible.”
She added: “I’m determined to make sure no child ever enters my home again with their belongings in a trash bag.”
The gesture drew national attention and connected her advocacy directly to her pageant platform in a way that felt personal rather than performative.
Foster Footprints
Justus is the founder of Foster Footprints, an organization that works with foster youth and families in the Washington, D.C., metropolitan area. The nonprofit aims to empower young people in the foster care system and provide practical support during what is often a chaotic and emotionally difficult transition.
The organization grew directly out of her and Tyler’s experience as foster parents. Rather than keeping their advocacy private, the Kelleys chose to build an institution around it, extending the principles they practice in their own home to a broader network of families and children.
Justus Kelley’s Career and Education
Kelley earned both her bachelor’s degree in community health and her master’s degree in public health administration from Indiana University Bloomington. She attended the university from 2013 to 2017.
She currently works as a senior philanthropic adviser at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, a role she began in 2025. St. Jude is one of the world’s leading pediatric treatment and research institutions, and the position connects Kelley’s public health background with her broader commitment to children’s welfare.
She also wore secondhand and thrifted pieces during parts of the Miss USA competition, pushing back against the assumption that pageantry requires a substantial financial investment.
The Historic Miss USA Win
Kelley’s win on August 27, 2026, was historic on multiple fronts.
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Kelley is the first mother to win Miss USA. She is the first married woman to win. She is the first woman in her 30s to hold the crown. And she is the first winner from Virginia since Deborah Shelton won the title in 1970, a gap of 56 years.
The Miss USA organization removed its restriction on mothers competing in 2023. The same rule change also eliminated the age cap, which had previously barred women over 28 from entering. Kelley’s win is the first direct result of both changes.
During the final question segment of the competition, Kelley addressed her nontraditional candidacy head-on. She spoke about being 31, married to her college sweetheart, and raising two foster siblings, and said her reign would represent a message that women no longer need to choose “between our ambitious careers, our families, and our wildest dreams.”
“I’m standing on this stage embracing every part of who I am,” she told the audience. “And I believe that I can be your next Miss USA.”
At a post-pageant press conference, she reflected on the weight of the moment: “I look at this like a responsibility to know that I was trusted to be the first.”
Miss USA 2025 Audrey Jolynn Eckert placed the crown on Kelley’s head. Virginia Governor Abigail Spanberger congratulated her publicly on Instagram, calling her “a strong role model to Virginians and Americans.”
Prize Package
Kelley’s win came with a prize package valued at over $685,000 that includes a $150,000 salary, a Range Rover vehicle, a one-year lease in a luxury Miami apartment, a $30,000 wardrobe for Miss Universe, and a Westgate Vacation Home Club membership, among other benefits.
She will represent the United States at the Miss Universe competition in Puerto Rico.
FAQ
Who is Justus Kelley’s husband?
Justus Kelley is married to Tyler Rashad Kelley. They met in 2013 at Indiana University Bloomington, where both studied, and married in 2017. Both grew up in Indianapolis, Indiana. Tyler was a Make-A-Wish “Wish Kid” as a child due to a life-threatening lupus condition and later became a foster parent alongside Justus.
Does Justus Kelley have children?
Kelley is a foster mother to two children: a baby boy and his preteen sister, whom she and Tyler are fostering through the Virginia foster care system. They have been licensed foster parents for approximately two years.
Why is Justus Kelley’s Miss USA win historic?
Kelley is the first mother, first married woman, and first woman in her 30s to be crowned Miss USA in the pageant’s 75-year history. She is also the first Virginia winner since 1970.
What is Foster Footprints?
Foster Footprints is a nonprofit organization founded by Justus Kelley that works with foster youth and families in the Washington, D.C., area. It aims to empower young people in the foster care system and support families navigating the process.
Why did Justus Kelley bring trash bags to Miss USA?
Kelley packed some of her belongings in black trash bags as a deliberate statement about the reality many foster children face when moving between homes. She said no child should have to carry their belongings in a garbage bag and used the gesture to raise awareness for the cause.
Where does Justus Kelley work?
Kelley works as a senior philanthropic adviser at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. She holds a bachelor’s degree in community health and a master’s in public health administration, both from Indiana University.
When was the last time Virginia won Miss USA?
The last Miss USA winner from Virginia before Kelley was Deborah Shelton in 1970, a gap of 56 years.
Will Justus Kelley compete at Miss Universe?
Yes. As Miss USA 2026, Kelley will represent the United States at the Miss Universe competition, which is scheduled to be held in Puerto Rico.
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Last Updated on August 28, 2026 by 247 News Around The World
