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Nearly 70 years ago, a beauty queen lost her Miss USA crown after pageant officials learned she was married and had children. In August, Justus Kelley broke that barrier, becoming the first married woman and mother to win the title in the 75th edition of the pageant.
Kelley, 31, is a foster mother who founded the nonprofit Foster Footprints to support children and families involved in foster care.
The historic victory came three years after the Miss USA pageant changed its rules to allow married women and mothers to compete.
Kelley is scheduled to compete in the 75th Miss Universe pageant, which will take place on November 24 in Puerto Rico.
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Justus Kelley (left), the first married mother to win Miss USA, pays tribute to Mary Leona Gage (right), the former Miss USA 1957, who was stripped of her title after it was revealed she was married with two children. Kelley will compete in the Miss Universe pageant on November 24, 2026. (Ivan Apfel/Getty Images; Getty Images)
Kelley paid tribute to Gage by wearing a custom black and white coat with the former beauty queen’s likeness while traveling to Puerto Rico for the pageant.
“Having the opportunity to represent the United States on the Miss Universe stage, I couldn’t help but think about Mary Leona Gage and the circumstances in which she represented this organization,” Kelley, 31, told People magazine.
“She was a woman who, in many ways, was not allowed to fully be herself or accept all that she was. Her title was ultimately taken away from her because society was not ready to accept who she was as a wife and mother of two children.”
Justus Kelley and his husband Tyler have been licensed foster parents in the Commonwealth of Virginia for almost two years. (Ivan Apfel/Getty Images)
On August 27, the Miss USA organization held the 75th edition of the national pageant in Miami. Kelley, who held the title of Miss Virginia USA 2026, succeeded 2025 winner Audrey Eckert. The pageant began allowing married women and mothers to compete in 2023.
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In 1957, Gage represented Maryland in the Miss USA pageant and won the title, according to People.
Shortly after Gage’s victory, rumors swirled about his marital status and children. Gage initially denied the reports. However, it was later revealed that she had married at age 14 and gave birth to her first child shortly after. She had her second child at 16, the Baltimore Sun reported.
Leona Gage, former Miss USA, disqualified from the Miss Universe pageant because she was married rather than single, returned to California to do a television show for NBC. She then went to Las Vegas for an engagement at the Tropicana Hotel. Gage spent the day in Hollywood with Debbie Reynolds at the Brown Derby. (Bettmann Archives)
Gage also misrepresented her age, telling pageant officials she was 21 when she was actually 18.
Mrs. Mary Leona Gage Ennis, the young woman who won the Miss USA title in the Miss Universe pageant and then lost it when it was discovered she was married with two children, is shown in this photo taken in 1956 with her husband, Gene, and their sons David, left, and Gene Jr. when she was 17. (Getty Images)
Following an official investigation, Gage was disqualified and stripped of her Miss USA crown. Runner-up Charlotte Sheffield, who represented Utah, won the crown and received the prizes.
Gage, who lost the crown about 24 hours after his victory, said he received hate mail following his disqualification.
Actress Zsa Zsa Gabor and Mary Leona Gage in Los Angeles, circa 1957. (Getty Images)
Gage had previously competed in the Miss Universe preliminary round and secured a spot among the 15 semi-finalists before being disqualified. Although Sheffield inherited the Miss USA crown, she was unable to replace Gage in the international competition because the preliminary judging had already been completed.
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Leona Gage of Maryland was crowned Miss USA. (Bettmann Archives)
According to the Baltimore Sun, Gage later worked as an entertainer at the Tropicana Hotel in Las Vegas and reportedly dated Frank Sinatra and former Mr. Universe Mickey Hargitay. She also pursued a film career but never achieved much success.
Despite losing her crown, Gage continued to watch the Miss USA pageant every year. She died in 2010 at age 71.
Justus Kelley married his high school sweetheart. (Ivan Apfel/Getty Images)
Kelley told People that Gage was on her mind as she prepared for the Miss Universe pageant.
Miss USA 2026 winner Justus Kelley and Miss Florida Aileen Cerchiara are on stage during the final competition and crowning of Miss USA 2026 at the Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts in Miami, Florida on August 27, 2026. (Ivan Apfel/Getty Images)
“I think about how much has changed since then and how grateful I am that today’s American women have the opportunity to represent their country while embracing every aspect of who they are,” Kelley said.
“I hope this moment reminds us that we stand on the shoulders of women who dared to question what was expected of them, so that we can have the freedom to be exactly who we are today.”
Justus Kelley walks the runway at the Michael Cinco show during New York Fashion Week, powered by Art Hearts Fashion at the Angel Orensanz Foundation on September 12, 2026, in New York City. (Getty Images for Art Hearts Mode)
The Miss USA pageant began in 1952 in Long Beach, California, with Jackie Loughery of New York becoming the first winner. The pageant is separate from the Miss America pageant, whose history dates back to a 1921 event in Atlantic City, New Jersey.
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Miss USA was founded in 1952. (Bettmann Archives)
In a previous interview with Fox News Digital, Kelley expressed a similar message about motherhood and ambition.
She said she hopes to use her reign as Miss USA to challenge the idea that women must choose between family, career and personal dreams.
Designer Marina Safina, Miss USA Justus Kelley and models walk the runway during the Marina Safina show during Los Angeles Fashion Week Powered By Art Hearts Fashion at Majestic Downtown on October 8, 2026. (Getty Images for Art Hearts Mode)
“You don’t have to choose a part of who you are,” Kelley said. “You can be whatever you are. That to me is the message. We can embrace every part of who we are. It doesn’t take away from the other. That doesn’t mean there aren’t compromises, and there aren’t times when we have to lean more on our village to overcome all the things we pursue. But know that we don’t have to sacrifice.”
Miss Virginia USA 2026 Justus Kelley is crowned Miss USA 2026 on stage during the final competition and crowning of Miss USA 2026 at the Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts on August 27, 2026, in Miami, Florida. (Ivan Apfel/Getty Images)
Kelley said her victory gave her the opportunity to represent mothers and wives who balance family life with their own ambitions.
Miss USA 2026 Justus Kelley wants to raise awareness about the need to provide a loving home for children in foster care. (Ivan Apfel/Getty Images)
“Knowing that history was made as a first mom, a first wife, a first woman in her 30s, my first thought was how amazing it is to be able to do this and represent women from all over the country, from all over the world who resonate with, ‘Hey, we’re still dreaming,’” she said.
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Miss USA 2026 Justus Kelley stands on stage during the final competition and crowning of Miss USA at the Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts in Miami, Florida on August 27, 2026. (Ivan Apfel/Getty Images)
“We’re raising our families, but we still have dreams. We still have things we want to pursue and pursue. But what an honor. I get to do this. I get to represent these women. What an honor.”
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