Victoria Oluwakotanmi, a Nigerian American and US Navy reservist, has been named Miss Grand USA 2026 after an extraordinary turn of events transformed her first runner up finish into the national crown, according to People and Pulse. The 25 year old, who represented Indiana at the August 10 final, initially finished behind Mekayla Li, but assumed the title after the organisation terminated Li’s reign.
Born and raised in San Antonio, Texas, Oluwakotanmi is the daughter of Nigerian immigrants and has maintained a strong connection to her Nigerian heritage. Her father reportedly moved to the United States about three decades ago and eventually earned a doctorate in nursing after initially working as a dishwasher.
Her journey extends well beyond pageantry. Oluwakotanmi enlisted in the US Navy Reserve in March 2019 as a Logistics Specialist, while also pursuing chemical engineering studies at Northwest Vista College. She began competing in pageants in 2020 after entering Miss Black San Antonio, later winning the Miss Grand Illinois title and competing in Miss Texas USA.
Education and youth empowerment are also central to her story. In 2018, she and her family established the Oluwakotanmi Promise, a scholarship and mentorship initiative created in honour of her late grandmother, who was denied the opportunity to attend college because of her gender. The programme supports young people through education and mentorship.
Her elevation followed the Miss Grand USA organisation’s decision to terminate Li’s reign, citing contractual policies. Reports have linked Li’s removal to pending legal issues and a previous marriage, though the organisation itself did not publicly detail the specific grounds for the decision. Oluwakotanmi will now represent the United States at Miss Grand International 2026, turning an unexpected pageant setback into a defining career moment.
