Miss Grand USA stripped of crown over hit-and-run, marriage

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Miss Grand USA, Mekyla Li, has been stripped of her title just one week after she was crowned following revelations about an alleged 2024 hit-and-run and a previous marriage.

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The Miss Grand USA organisation announced that Li’s reign had been terminated and that she had been released from the “Miss Grand USA Title and all associated duties” for violating the pageant’s rules.

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“This decision was made in accordance with contractual policies outlined by the Miss Grand USA organisation,” the organisation said in a statement posted on Instagram on Thursday.

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Li, 27, is facing two felony charges stemming from an alleged hit-and-run in Los Angeles in November 2024, according to court records obtained by People.

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She was arrested on November 24, 2024, and pleaded not guilty to charges alleging that she caused non-serious injury and permanent serious injury.

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According to a civil lawsuit reported by People, Li and a man identified as Michael Scobey allegedly swerved into oncoming traffic on Sunset Boulevard and collided with a vehicle driven by Anna Mercedes Aoun.

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Aoun alleged that she suffered “catastrophic injuries,” including “some permanent disability,” as well as loss of future income.

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She further alleged that Li and Scobey failed to call emergency services following the crash and instead “fled the scene” in a rideshare vehicle.

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Aoun is seeking damages for medical expenses, property damage, lost earnings and other expenses, as well as a jury trial.

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Li’s previous marriage also appears to conflict with the eligibility requirements of the Miss Grand International pageant.

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Records showed that she was married to Danny Ray Bedwell from August 9, 2018, to December 31, 2019.

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The pageant’s rules state that contestants “cannot be or have been married or pregnant” and “must have a clean personal record with no criminal history.”

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Li won the Miss Grand USA title on August 10 and had said she was already preparing to represent the United States at the Miss Grand International pageant in India later this year.

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She was previously crowned Miss Grand Massachusetts 2026 and Miss Asia USA 2025.

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Born to Chinese and South African parents, Li was raised “across three continents,” according to her website.

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Following her removal, Miss Grand USA named Miss Grand Indiana, Victoria Oluwakotanmi, who finished as the first runner-up, as her replacement on Thursday.

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Oluwakotanmi was named Miss Black San Antonio in March 2020 and competed in the Miss Texas USA pageant in 2023.

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“Victoria now steps forward to carry the crown, represent the United States, and begin an extraordinary new chapter with the Miss Grand USA organization,” the pageant said.

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