Nigerian-American beauty queen Victoria Oluwakotanmi has been crowned Miss Grand USA 2026 after the organisation ended the reign of the original titleholder, Mekayla Li.
Oluwakotanmi, who emerged as the first runner-up at the Miss Grand USA final held on August 10, took over the title on Friday following the termination of Li’s reign.
Her new position means Oluwakotanmi will represent the United States at the Miss Grand International competition, taking her journey from national pageantry to the international stage.
Beyond beauty pageants, Oluwakotanmi has built a diverse background spanning education, youth empowerment and military service.
Born and raised in San Antonio, Texas, she is the daughter of Nigerian immigrants and has openly embraced her Nigerian heritage and upbringing in a Nigerian-American household.
Before entering pageantry, Oluwakotanmi served in the United States Navy Reserve. She enlisted in March 2019 as a Logistics Specialist and was assigned to the Naval Operational Support Center San Antonio at Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston.
Her military experience has become an important part of her public identity, particularly as a young Black woman who has served in the US military.
Oluwakotanmi began her pageant journey in February 2020 when she competed in the Miss Black San Antonio pageant.
She later won the Miss Grand Illinois title and competed in Miss Texas USA as an at-large contestant.
Alongside her military and pageant career, Oluwakotanmi pursued studies in chemical engineering at Northwest Vista College.
Education and youth development are also central to her advocacy. In 2018, she and her family established the Oluwakotanmi Promise, a scholarship and mentorship initiative created in honour of her late grandmother.
According to Oluwakotanmi, her grandmother was denied the opportunity to attend college because of her gender. The initiative was subsequently established to provide young people with educational support, mentorship and access to opportunities.
She has continued to highlight the progress of beneficiaries of the programme, including members of its first cohort who graduated from high school in 2026.
Oluwakotanmi’s path to the Miss Grand USA crown took an unexpected turn after she initially finished as first runner-up to Mekayla Li at the August 10 final.
Following the Miss Grand USA organisation’s decision to end Li’s tenure and remove her from the title and its responsibilities, Oluwakotanmi was elevated to Miss Grand USA 2026.
She will now carry the United States’ representation at the international competition while continuing to highlight her Nigerian-American heritage, military background and commitment to youth empowerment.