Victoria Oluwakotanmi, a Nigerian-American, has been officially named Miss Grand USA 2026.
The announcement was made by the organisers on Friday, August 21, 2026, after the original winner, Mekayla Li, was stripped of her crown eight days after her coronation.
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How the Sudden Change of Winner Happened
Mekayla Li, who represented Massachusetts, was crowned Miss Grand USA 2026 in Las Vegas on August 10, while Oluwakotanmi finished as first runner-up. However, Li’s reign was terminated on August 19.
According to the organisation, which stated that they were following contractual policies, Li’s removal was due to two reasons.
The first was an alleged 2024 hit-and-run incident involving ongoing criminal and civil cases. The other reason for her removal is her records of a previous marriage.
Both of these records are against the pageant eligibility rules, which require contestants to have no criminal history and never to have been married.
In an official statement, Miss Grand USA wrote:
“With great excitement, @officialmissgrandusa proudly announces Victoria Oluwakotanmi as Miss Grand USA 2026. Victoria now steps forward to carry the crown, represent the United States, and begin an extraordinary new chapter with the Miss Grand USA organisation.”
Who Is Victoria Oluwakotanmi?
Navy Reserve. Credit: Instagram/ tori_olu
Victoria Oluwakotanmi was born to a Nigerian immigrant couple in Texas. Her father pursued the American dream after arriving in the U.S. decades ago, eventually earning a doctorate in nursing.
Oluwakotanmi has a background in military service. She was enlisted in March 2019 as a logistics specialist in the U.S. Navy Reserve, stationed at Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston.
The Miss Grand USA was not her first pageantry competition as a contestant. She was named Miss Black San Antonio in 2020 and also competed in the Miss Texas USA pageant in 2023.
Oluwakotanmi is active in empowerment projects such as hosting workshops focused on building self-confidence and resilience for young girls.
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She has shared congratulatory messages on her Instagram Stories but has not publicly made detailed comments on the circumstances of her predecessor’s removal.
She has, however, expressed readiness for the journey ahead:
“The crown is on, the lights are waiting, and I’m ready to make this year count and see just how grand this journey can be.”
Oluwakotanmi will compete on the global stage at the Miss Grand International 2026 pageant, which will be held in October in India.
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