Nigerian-American beauty queen Victoria Oluwakotanmi has assumed the title of Miss Grand USA 2026 after the organisation terminated the reign of the original winner, Mekayla Li.
Oluwakotanmi, who emerged as the first runner-up at the Miss Grand USA final on August 10, took over the crown on Friday following the organisation’s decision to end Li’s reign.
Her new position places her on an international platform, where she will represent the United States at the Miss Grand International pageant.
Beyond her achievement in pageantry, Oluwakotanmi’s story is shaped by her Nigerian heritage, military service, education and commitment to youth empowerment.
Born and raised in San Antonio, Texas, she is the daughter of Nigerian immigrants and has spoken about her Nigerian roots and experience growing up in a Nigerian-American family.
Before entering the world of pageantry, Oluwakotanmi served in the United States Navy Reserve. She enlisted in March 2019 as a Logistics Specialist and was associated with the Naval Operational Support Center San Antonio at Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston.
Her military career has become an important part of her identity, particularly as a young Black woman who served in the US armed forces.
Oluwakotanmi began her pageantry journey in February 2020 when she competed in the Miss Black San Antonio competition. Her first pageant experience came without much of the elaborate preparation traditionally associated with beauty contests.
She later won the Miss Grand Illinois title and competed in Miss Texas USA as an at-large contestant.
Outside pageantry and military service, Oluwakotanmi studied chemical engineering at Northwest Vista College while serving in the Navy.
In 2018, she and her family established the Oluwakotanmi Promise, a scholarship and mentorship programme created in honour of her late grandmother.
According to Oluwakotanmi’s public accounts, her grandmother was denied the opportunity to attend college because of her gender. The initiative was established to help provide educational opportunities and mentorship for young people.
With her appointment as Miss Grand USA 2026, Oluwakotanmi now takes on a new role that combines pageantry with her advocacy, military background and commitment to empowering the next generation.
