Meet Victoria Oluwakotanmi, former US navy officer crowned Miss Grand USA

n n

Nigerian-American beauty queen Victoria Oluwakotanmi has stepped into the spotlight after becoming Miss Grand USA 2026.

n

Oluwakotanmi, who finished as the first runner-up at the Miss Grand USA final held on August 10, assumed the crown on Friday after the organisation terminated the reign of the original winner, Mekayla Li.

n

Her new title places her on an international stage, where she will represent the United States at the Miss Grand International pageant.

n

However, Oluwakotanmi’s journey to the crown extends beyond pageantry, with a background spanning the US Navy, education and youth empowerment.

n

Born and raised in San Antonio, Texas, Oluwakotanmi is the daughter of Nigerian immigrants and has spoken publicly about her Nigerian heritage and experience growing up in a Nigerian-American family.

n

Long before she wore a pageant crown, Oluwakotanmi joined the United States Navy Reserve.

n

She enlisted in March 2019 as a Logistics Specialist and has been associated with the Naval Operational Support Center San Antonio at Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston.

n

Her military service has formed an important part of her public identity as a young Black woman who served in the US armed forces.

n

Oluwakotanmi began her pageant journey with the Miss Black San Antonio competition in February 2020.

n

Her first competition came with little of the elaborate preparation often associated with beauty pageants.

n

She later held the Miss Grand Illinois title and competed in Miss Texas USA as an at-large contestant.

n

Away from pageantry and military service, Oluwakotanmi studied chemical engineering at Northwest Vista College while serving in the Navy.

n

Education has also become an important part of her advocacy work.

n

In 2018, Oluwakotanmi and her family founded the Oluwakotanmi Promise, a scholarship and mentorship programme established in honour of her late grandmother.

n

According to Oluwakotanmi’s public accounts, her grandmother was denied the opportunity to attend college because of her gender.

n

The initiative was created to support young people through education, mentorship and other opportunities.

n

Oluwakotanmi has also shared updates about recipients of the programme, including members of its first cohort who graduated from high school in 2026.

n

Her path to the Miss Grand USA crown, however, took an unexpected turn.

n

Oluwakotanmi did not initially win the 2026 Miss Grand USA pageant. She finished as the first runner-up at the August 10 final, where Mekayla Li was crowned.

n

However, after the Miss Grand USA organisation terminated Li’s reign and released her from the title and associated duties, Oluwakotanmi was elevated to Miss Grand USA 2026.

n n