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On Thursday, Miss Virginia Justus Kelley was crowned Miss USA, marking the first time in the pageant’s 75-year history that a mother — and a woman over 30 — has won.
“This opportunity means the world to me, and not only are we celebrating the 75th anniversary, but we made history tonight,” the new Miss USA said in a video posted on the organization’s Instagram page. “I’m the first married woman, first mom, and first woman in her 30s. It’s a great night.”
Kelley’s groundbreaking win comes three years after the Miss Universe and Miss USA organizations lifted the age cap on contestants and allowed mothers to participate in the pageant. Though Kelley is the first beauty queen to officially win since the rules changed, back in 1957 Mary Leona Gage was crowned Miss USA only for pageant officials to strip her of her title after they learned she was secretly married and had two children.
Kelley, 31, is an Indiana University graduate who currently works as a philanthropic adviser at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, the Miami Herald reported. The beauty queen and her husband, Tyler Kelley, are college sweethearts who decided to foster children early in their relationship. “Thirteen years later, we have welcomed children ranging from 7 months to 10 years old into our home,” she recently told People. They are currently fostering a baby boy and his sister.
Kelley is set to compete this November in the Miss Universe competition, which will be held in San Juan, Puerto Rico. “I know what it feels like to represent moms and be above the age where you’re told you can no longer compete,” she told the Herald. “I have a sense of responsibility to show all those women they can still chase their dream and raise families, plus take care of themselves. It’s a special message, and I’m honored to share it.”
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Photo: Ivan Apfel/Getty Images
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