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Justus Kelley's Miss USA 2026 winning look may have sparkled onstage, but its story was rooted in her commitment to making pageantry more accessible.
The newly crowned Miss USA 2026 wore a shimmering gown with a dramatic pink feathered cape during the competition in Miami on Thursday, Aug. 27. While her look stood out among the elaborate outfits worn by the other contestants, Kelley revealed that part of her ensemble was borrowed from a former pageant queen.
Speaking with PEOPLE after her historic win, Kelley explained that she has made wearing thrifted, secondhand or freely sourced clothing a tradition since she began competing in state-level pageants.
After winning Miss Virginia USA on July 18, Kelley said she told her state directors that she did not want to give up those principles now that she had a bigger platform.
"I wouldn't feel comfortable telling people to compete if I knew you cannot be successful in competing unless you spend above your means," she said, emphasizing her desire to demonstrate that pageantry can be accessible to everyone.
Kelley said thrifting, upcycling and finding clothing through secondhand sources have allowed her to compete without spending thousands of dollars on gowns and outfits. She recalled feeling particularly proud after attending pageant events in a suit she purchased from Goodwill for just $9.99.
"And I felt like a million bucks," she said.
For Kelley, the message goes beyond sustainable fashion. She wants women from different financial backgrounds to feel that they can participate in pageantry without having to spend huge amounts of money.
Her winning ensemble provided another example. Kelley revealed that the striking pink feathered cape was lent to her by Savannah Miles, a former Miss Georgia USA.
"That was a piece that she had made that I was able to get from a sister queen," Kelley explained. She said knowing the story behind the cape made it even more meaningful, adding that she loves giving items "another life, another use, and another purpose."
Her gown was not secondhand, but Kelley said it was provided for free by a designer in the Philippines.
Fashion was not the only way Kelley incorporated advocacy into her competition journey. Earlier in the week, she arrived carrying her belongings in trash bags rather than traditional suitcases, highlighting the experiences of children in foster care.
Kelley and her husband, Tyler, have been licensed foster parents in Virginia for nearly two years. They have welcomed children ranging from seven months to 10 years old into their home.
Her historic victory makes Kelley the first Miss USA winner to be married, have children and be over 30.
