Miss Virginia USA Justus Kelley was crowned as the 2026 Miss USA at the Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts of Miami-Dade County in Florida on August 27.She made history as the first mother and the first married woman to win the prestigious national title. The pageant changed the rules in 2023 that didn’t allow women with children to compete. It also lifted the age cap.Justus Kelley is married to Tyler Kelley, a Strategy, Innovation, and Incubation Associate and Client Success Specialist at McKinsey & Company in Washington, D.C.Justus, 31, wowed a seven-member judging panel with her beauty, brains, and talents, defeating 50 other women. As the new Miss USA, she will advance to the Miss Universe pageant scheduled to be held in Puerto Rico later this year. View this post on Instagram Instagram PostAll you need to know about Justus Kelley’s familyJustus Kelley met Tyler Kelley in 2013 when they were both studying at Indiana University through the Groups Scholars program for first-generation college goers. Their friendship grew through their shared interest in campus faith-based ministry, which soon blossomed into love. While she was born in Arlington, Virginia, she grew up in Indianapolis like her husband.The couple tied the knot in 2017 and has since then raised a goldendoodle named Crimson. For two years, they have been licensed foster parents in the Commonwealth of Virginia. Currently, Tyler and Justus Kelley are fostering a pair of siblings – a baby boy and his preteen sister.Earlier this month, Justus spoke with PEOPLE:“I married my college sweetheart, who shared with me on one of our very first dates that he, too, dreamed of fostering someday. Thirteen years later, we have welcomed children ranging from 7 months to 10 years old into our home.”The new Miss USA 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 Kelley observed that it’s a “privilege” to celebrate her foster children’s “milestones, first steps, and countless little moments.” She added that the siblings’ biological family has been an “incredible partner in this journey.” She maintained that the goal is to always reunite the kids with their biological family. However, they are now the children’s long-term godparents.“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,” Justus, founder of Foster Footprints, explained.The organization aims to “empower” foster youth in the DMV area. View this post on Instagram Instagram PostTyler Kelley, who is four years older than his wife, was once a “Wish Kid” who won a free trip to Disney World because of a life-threatening lupus condition. He has since returned the favor to his nephew (son of his late younger brother who died in gun violence) and took him on a trip to the amusement park. Tyler told Bloom Magazine in June 2021:“He had a son on the way who he never got to meet. This past August, Justus and I took his son to Disney World—in memory of him, but also wanting to give our nephew an experience like we had.”Just like her, Justus Kelley’s husband is also a former “Big” with Big Brothers Big Sisters and also as its mentor, ambassador, and volunteer engagement committee chair. The latter even served on the organization’s board as well as on the board of Middle Way House (also a Youth Empowerment Services Assistant Coordinator). In fact, he and his fellow Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity brothers hold a weekly reading group as part of the Rise Transitional Housing Program.“My background is what drives me. Coming from a little bit of nothing, I recognize there is more out there that I now have experienced and will continue to experience, and I can give that to others as well. It helps me to remember where I come from. It also helps me to show them where they can go,” Tyler told the magazine.While Justus Kelley studied community health and public health administration at IU, her husband graduated with a bachelor’s in science in psychology. Tyler also obtained a master’s degree in education innovation from UVA School of Education and Human Development. He also has an MBA (was also a Research Assistant/Implementation Intern) from the University of Virginia Darden School of Business and was a Riordan MBA Prep Fellow.At his alma mater, Tyler Kelley previously served as the Office Service Assistant for the McNutt Residence Center and a Recruiting Coordinating and Program Development Assistant for the Balfour Scholars Program.As part of the Monroe County Community School Corporation, Justus Kelley’s life partner joined Bloomington High School North as a part-time academic lab instructor. He also worked as a Senior Associate Director of Recruitment and Student Services at Indiana University Hamilton Lugar School of Global and International Studies as well as Associate Director of Recruiting, Admissions, and Stewardship at IU’s Kelley School of Business. View this post on Instagram Instagram PostAmong Tyler Kelley’s other jobs are being a fellow and board member at Admit.me Access and a summer associate at Deloitte. He joined his current employer three years ago as a talent strategy associate before becoming an associate consultant. He was promoted to his current role in April 2026.Justus Kelley told PEOPLE last week about being a foster parent:“When we say yes to a foster placement, we don’t know what the outcome will be. We don’t know how long they will stay, or what our relationship with them will look like when they leave our home. But we refuse to let the uncertainty keep us from loving them fully. We don’t hold back love or avoid attachment because we believe that is exactly what every child deserves.”The former Miss Arlington USA added:“I consider it one of the greatest honors and privileges to open our home to children who need one, and to remind them, however long we get to be their family, that they were always worth loving.”Besides being a foster mom, philanthropist, entrepreneur, and pageant winner, Justus Kelley has served as an advancement officer for Make-A-Wish Ohio, Kentucky and Indiana as well as Senior Philanthropic Advisor at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.In addition to winning Miss Arlington USA and Miss Virginia USA, Justus Kelley has also won Mrs Indiana and was the first runner-up at the 2021 Mrs America. While in college, she was also crowned Miss Indiana University in 2016.