Nigerian-American beauty queen Victoria Oluwakotanmi has been named Miss Grand USA 2026, stepping into the role after the previous titleholder, Mekayla Li, was removed from the crown.
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Oluwakotanmi, who represented Indiana, was the first runner-up at the Miss Grand USA 2026 pageant held in Las Vegas earlier this month. She now takes over the title and will represent the United States at the international Miss Grand competition.
The Miss Grand USA organisation announced the change on Friday, welcoming Oluwakotanmi as its new queen and describing the appointment as the beginning of a new chapter for her.
Her elevation follows the termination of Li's reign only days after she won the national title. The organisation did not publicly give detailed reasons for the decision, although reports have linked it to issues surrounding her eligibility.
Oluwakotanmi's supporters have celebrated her promotion and are calling for an official crowning ceremony so she can properly mark the achievement.
The new Miss Grand USA will now prepare to carry the American title onto the international stage, with fans eager to see what she brings to the competition.